Whisky: Strathclyde 33 Year (1987), Acorn for Aloha Whisky Bar Anniversary

Country/Region: Scotland/Lowland Grain

ABV: 42.6%

Cask: Oak

Age: 33 Years (Distilled Sept. 1987, Bottled Oct. 2020)

Nose: Sweet cream, salted butter, vanilla, hints of almond and walnut, buttercream frosting with lemon and lilikoi, faint floral notions of plumeria and lavender.

Palate: Medium-bodied with layers of apples, butter, vanilla, earth, honey, citrus rind; creamier at the end.

Finish: Medium-length with vanilla, cream, and a gentle spice.

Score: 6+

Mental Image: Creamery Gift Shop

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was sweet and creamy with whipped salted butter, meringue, and buttercream frosting. Lemon zest and fresh lilikoi complemented the cream with subtle vanilla, almond, and walnut. An underlying layer of plumeria and lavender florals occasionally surfaced. The palate was medium-bodied and oily with sliced apples, vanilla ice cream, whipped butter, pie crust, and honey. Orange zest arrived with a subtle raspberry coulis, creamy soft goat cheese, and mellow earthiness that shifted from red dirt to dehydrated shiitake mushrooms. Creamier toward the end, with lingering notions of orange rind and butter. The finish was medium-length with vanilla, cream, and gentle spice.

First up, a disclaimer: I know the person who selected and bottled this cask, so I am not a completely impartial observer regarding this whisky. As always, I am unsure if that means I graded it harder or easier, but I want to know if another reviewer had an entanglement with a whisky, so I want to make mine clear.

Strathclyde is easily my favorite single-grain distillery. I find their whisky tends to have a bit more character than other grain distilleries and often comes loaded with delicious amounts of vanilla cream. This whisky was no exception, especially as elements of citrusy fruit complemented the cream beautifully. At the same time, intriguing and subtle layers of florals and earth added additional complexity to the nose and palate. Those notes were not always well-integrated with everything else, but they provided more depth than one typically encounters with a single grain.

Overall, creamy and delightful, Strathclyde rarely disappoints in my experience.