Whisky: Strathearn 7 Year (2014), Thompson Brothers "Seven Cask Series"

Country/Region: Scotland/Highlands

ABV: 52.9%

Cask: Port Cask

Age: 7 Years (Distilled 7 Aug. 2014, Bottled 2022)

Nose: Big juicy fruits, plums, holiday spices, mulled wine, hints of bubble gum and birthday cake frosting.

Palate: Medium to full-bodied, syrupy, but balanced; dark fruits and woody holiday spices, mulled wine, berries, a touch of spirited pepper at the end.

Finish: Long with slightly artificial fruits and mulled wined.

Score: 6+ (80)

Mental Image: The Sommelier’s Whisky

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was big and juicy with plums, dates, blue berries, and prunes juiced for an early morning constitutional.  Holiday spices lingered in the background with cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, and cloves which lent a festive element alongside subtle bubblegum and birthday cake frosting. Medium to full-bodied and syrupy with big dark fruits and woody spices.  Initially a wave of thick fruits and jams covered the palate, as they receded the mouthfeel thinned and more cinnamon spice and black pepper emerged— mulled wine on the stovetop. Juiced plums, blueberries, and prunes lingered toward the end with some slightly herbal holiday spices poking out in the background.  The finish was long with slightly artificial black fruits and spiced winter wine.

Another new distillery this week! Strathearn began operations in 2013, which put it right at the beginning of the new wave of Scottish distilleries.  It is one of Scotland’s smallest distilleries and this was my first opportunity to try their whisky— there just is not much of it out there.

For a really cask-driven whisky, this was not bad. Certain to appeal to wine drinkers, who will find a lot of familiar elements between the black fruits, baking spices, and hints of charred oak. It was rather simple and the mouthfeel unbalanced, but the finish was immaculate. I imagine this would pair wonderfully with some creamy soft cheese or something with a kick of brine— I could easily see a dram, if not the bottle, disappear in such circumstances.