Don’t Miss a Rare Chance at a Glorious Highland Treasure

1997 Strathisla 24 Year Old “Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Cask #47793 Single Refill Hogshead

Nonchillfiltered Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($300.00)
“This exceptional cask is easily one of the most exciting we’ve come across in ages … it offers depth matched by only the choicest casks we’ve ever purchased.”
— David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

This is the kind of K&L Exclusive Cask that keeps our spirits team so diligently on the hunt. The folks at Gordon & MacPhail have done it once again, this time with a collectible masterpiece that should have single-malt aficionados tripping over each other to snag a bottle. The Strathisla distillery in the Highlands is highly coveted and seldom seen bottled on its own in the independent market, as most of the stock gets blended into Chivas. But when collectors get the chance, they know to jump in with both feet. At 24 years old, this refill hogshead is bursting with kaleidoscopic complexity and full of expression. Mature examples like this are as rare as hen’s teeth and show just why they’re so adored. A dizzying and enchanting overall profile makes for “one of the finest malts on the planet” according to Andrew Whiteley, while David Othenin-Girard describes it as “a seamless and simply incomparable experience.” This barrel epitomizes the excellence and rarity that define our Exclusive Cask program, and Scotch fans everywhere should take full advantage of the opportunity to own one of the world’s great whiskies at what amounts to a relative steal.

1997 Strathisla 24 Year Old “Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur’s Choice” K&L Exclusive Cask #47793 Single Refill Hogshead Nonchillfiltered Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($300.00)

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: March 04, 2022

Strathisla comes into its full glory when it’s allowed to stretch its legs and reach full maturity. Unfortunately for lovers of single malt, the vast majority of the picturesque distillery’s spirit finds its way into Chivas long before it develops into one of the finest malts on the planet. Gordon & MacPhail, thanks to their deep roots in the independent bottling world, has the best selection of this magical little distillery’s whisky in their warehouses, destined for single malt glory. Here we have a cask as picture-perfect as a postcard. Bottled at 24 years old and an ABV of 57.3%, this refill American hogshead is laden with developed fruit and candied cereals. The nose is zesty and sweet like an apple pie and a lemon meringue combined into one hedonistic dessert. Faint whiffs of tropical fruits are interspersed between the fresh malt and candy-coated barley aromas. The palate is a bit piquant at full throttle, but a few drops of water and the beast really shows its beauty. It stretches into a soft and harmonious palate ranging from baking spice, flaky pastry crust, and ripe stone fruits on down the line to almond kernel, vanilla, butterscotch, and hot caramel. If you’ve ever had the fortune to experience Strathisla on its own, you’ll know how compelling the malt can be. If you haven’t had it before, you might as well start here at the top.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: March 10, 2022

This exceptional cask is easily one of the most exciting we’ve come across in ages. Yes it’s expensive, but it represents a style that is basically completely unavailable in the modern Scotch market. Strathisla is an exceptional distillery, and it’s no surprise that we’ve never yet imported a cask from any of our suppliers. The owners simply won’t let go of this prized juice, but our friends at G&M have the hook up. Aged for nearly two and a half decades in top-quality wood, and it’s very easy to see why it’s so coveted. No, it’s not some sort of sherry bomb or super-intense peater, but it offers depth matched by only the choicest casks we’ve ever purchased. With only 177 bottles in existence, there’s no question that the real malt lovers will fall in love with this product and snatch it up before we know it. Let’s have a taste. The color is a distinctive, deep gold. The nose offers a precise and robust attack of raw manuka honey, freshly snipped heather, sweet candied lemon peel, and wild herbs. On the palate, it’s creamy and waxy—a slight resemblance to the fabulous Clynelish—with sweet citrus and wild tropical fruits (guava, mango, lychee) that linger for many minutes during the finish. With water, an incredible mineral character emerges, adding to the citrus tones. Like the finest GG Riesling in the glass and now more chocolate on the palate as well. A seamless and simply incomparable experience that will be so familiar and inviting to many of the long-time malt drinkers, but likely a totally new experience for many others. There’s simply not a lot of malt out there like this one any longer. Invigorating in every sense of the word.