Strathisla 35 Year Old - Bicentenary 1786-1986

INFORMATION

Strathisla 35 Year Old. Produced for the bicentenary of the distillery 1786-1986. 75cl. 43%.

A phenomenal 35-year-old Strathisla bottled for the distillery’s 200th anniversary celebrations in 1986. Assembled from two ex-sherry puncheons laid down in 1947, this famous bottling has a justifiably exalted reputation among whisky fans entranced by its industrial levels of waxiness and delicious sherry-tinged leather and fruit flavours, with a hint of peat in the background.

Boasting remarkably concentrated flavours despite its 43% strength, Strathisla 35-year-old Bicentenary was sadly a very limited edition bottling - just 500 bottles were produced and many were opened or gifted to staff and VIPs during the Bicentenary celebrations, adding an extra layer of scarcity to this legendary whisky.

DISTILLERY:Strathisla

DISTILLERY STATUS:Working

Bottle ABV:43%

Bottle SIZE:75cl / 750ml

Bottle PRODUCED:500

BOTTLER:Distillery Bottling

SPIRIT TYPE:Scotland

LIMITED EDITION:yes

CASK TYPE:Single Malt

BOTTLING DATE::1986

AGE:35

One of the greatest of the Speyside distilleries, Strathisla distillery’s whisky is equally at home in sherry or bourbon casks but is not heavily marketed as a single malt, as its spirit is a crucial ingredient in owner Pernod Ricard’s portfolio of blended whiskies. The only official bottlings released are the standard 12-year-old and a series of single cask bottlings available only at the group’s distillery visitor centres.

Thankfully, Gordon & MacPhail have long been a licensed bottler of Strathisla and hold a very considerable stock of Strathisla casks dating back decades. G&M have bottled a remarkable number of superb Strathislas, from the extraordinary 1937 vintage bottles through to the recent 65-year-old Strathisla 1953. At auction, away from the famous vintages and long-aged sherrybombs, mid-aged Strathislas from Gordon & MacPhail are generally excellent value.