N.V. Stronachie 10 yo 43% (Highlands)

Once upon a time, Stronachie was a whisky distillery rather remotely sited in the hills of Perthshire; it was known for a fine, mellow, heather-flower scented malt whisky. The challenges of the location eventually became too much, and Stronachie closed its doors forever in 1928. Independent bottlers A.D. Rattray have latterly broached one of the last bottles of the original Stronachie still in existence, with a view to recreating the style of this lost Highland malt. Their modern rendition of Stronachie is distilled at (similarly remote) Benrinnes distillery. There’s a very attractive balance of malt and fruit notes here, with the aromatics evoking heather and cream, honey and oatcake. (NT 09/07/24)