Strathisla 1967 / 2004 Duncan Taylor 45.9% vs Strathisla 1965 James MacArthur 51.7%

Strathisla 1967 / 2004 Duncan Taylor 45.9%

A lot here but its very subtle. Dry aromatic wood notes that can only come from old wood – old cedar panels, pine boxes, old oak furniture, eucalyptus resins, spearmint, camphor incense. Lots of gorgeously smooth macademia butter. Potpourri (in a good way) especially dried bark, and paper thin petals. Hints of Calvados. Turpenes and worn copper. Seriously multihued, sprinkles of old ground cloves and cinnamon, unburnt tobacco, dried dates, ginger soup, little caramel bonbons perfectly wrapped. A ton of wood, yet the wood is not tannic or clunky instead its immeasurably layered with great depth. 89 pts

Strathisla 1965 James MacArthur 51.7%

Off kilter. Oily copper pans, chamomile, sharp honey. Quite a thick nose, almost musty. Stale fruit skins, tree resins, cedar oil and sweet warm wax. This sounds great, but the whole lacks finesse and balance – way too wood-oily on the tongue, which seems a thing with these James MacArthurs. Also a little too metalic despite some newfound ascerbic fruit on the tongue.  83 pts