Strathearn Inaugural Bottling NV

Professional reviews

BOW (87.50)

Strathearn distillery was founded in 2013 and was acquired by Douglas Laing in 2019, fulfilling a long-held desire of the Laing family.

Strathearn Highland Single Malt Whisky
From one of Scotland's smallest distilleries comes one of the country's most robust malts. Prioritizing flavor over alcohol yield, Strathearn is one of, if not the only distillery still using Maris Otter malt. This type of malt contributes to a creamy and malty new-make spirit.

Located in Highland Perthshire, an area with a rich whisky distilling tradition thanks to its spectacular landscapes and freshwater lakes, the Strathearn Distillery sits on the outskirts of Perth, Scotland's ancient capital. This is close to where Scottish kings were traditionally crowned on the legendary Stone of Destiny.

It's undeniable that this is a craft distillery through and through. Approximately 60,000 liters of new make are produced per year, and without a spirit safe, the cut points are determined based on taste! Every drop of Strathearn Single Malt Whisky is crafted by hand. The malted barley is hand-carried to the distillery and mixed with local Highland water in one of Scotland's smallest mash tuns. After an unusually long fermentation of 144 hours, it is distilled, and the barrels are hand-filled.

The "water of life" consists of a batch of 32 barrels. It undergoes triple cask maturation in ex-bourbon, virgin, and ex-sherry oak casks. Two-thirds of the batch are between 6 and 8 years old. One-third of the batch was distilled by Douglas Laing after the acquisition. Bottled at a pleasing 50% ABV with no added colorings and non-chill filtered!

Official Tasting Notes:

Color: Amber.
Nose: Delightful barley with soft oak.
Palate: Honey and buttercream with baking spices and dried apricots.
Finish: A symphonic warm finish of buttery oatcakes.

Words of Whisky (86)

This is a weighty spirit with a lot of cereal elements, almost farmy at times, which is right in my wheelhouse.
Nose
Gentle oak with soft spices, faint floral notes, a whisper of barley husks, some draff and porridge. Almost farmy. Light fruits linger in the background, mainly apples but also a sliver of jammy apricots. Then butterscotch and gingerbread to round things out.
Taste
Wonderful viscosity. The syrupy mouthfeel supports a good amount of bread-y notes. I find the cereal backbone very attractive. Somewhat buttery at times, but also notes of golden syrup, a tinge of fennel and warming spices. The oak spices are present, but never detrimental.
Finish
Medium length. Spices, a tinge of chocolate and shortbread.