The 17 years back in time session part 1: 2008
While I was preparing some samples to taste for you this week, I came across a few distilleries of which I had not produced tasting notes. Turned out they both come from the year 2008, which is – now the calendar turned to 2025 – some 17 years ago. A happy coincidence is that the blog I prepared for tomorrow contains two Speyside whiskies from 1991, another 17 years detracted. You see, as a blogger you need the silliest happenstance to come up with a theme. So, without further ado, I will take you back to 2008 first. The year that Barack Obama got elected President of the United States, it was a Leap Year, the stock markets faced uncertain times and Iron Man was released in cinemas and subsequently kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sport fans saw a remarkable outcome of the Grand Prix of Brazil, that crowned Lewis Hamilton F1 champion of the world for the first time. Manchester United won the Champions League in the first ever all England finale against Chelsea. The Bitcoin was invented. Heath Ledger and Yves Saint Laurent died in 2008. You know what, go check out for yourself what the year 2008 brought. It was quite an eventful spin around the sun, I must say! Let us stick to whisky…
Strathisla 2008, 15 years old, bottled at 54,9 % abv
First things first: This official bottling of Strathisla in the Distillery Reserve Collection was put into glass on 11 September 2023, after being distilled on 29 February 2008 (Leap Day, hurray!). The whisky matured in First Fill Barrel # 211804. The cask contained 312 bottles.
Upon Sipping: Strathisla Distillery is probably one of the prettiest in Scotland, but official bottlings are far and between. This is a delightful opportunity to taste it at middle age. It is very fresh and the colour is light, so we expect a lot of spirit character here. White grapes, vanilla of course, a slight hint of Chardonnay. We will return after a drop of water. The taste is riddled with vanilla and an incredible amount of wood spice. It is surprisingly bitter on the palate, where I would have expected a light fruity attack. Quite the plot twist, but certainly mature and fierce. Adding a splash, there is not much development going on. The taste becomes more mellow though, and the bitterness is washed away. Solid finish, decent dram.
Word to the Wise: It is a decent drop, for sure, but a bit too much austerity to make it interesting. One has to wonder why this single cask was chosen. You might get more excitement from a bottle of Chivas Regal 12 years old.
Score: 80 points
Teaninich 2008, 10 years old, bottled at 57,2 % abv by Cadenhead’s
First things first: Bottled in the Authentic Collection, this Teaninich matured in a bourbon hogshead that delivered 276 bottles.
Upon Sipping: Not entirely unlike the Strathisla actually, quite fresh and simply a classic example of bourbon maturation. But the Teaninich spirit has a bit more character than a regular Speyside, and that saves the day here. Next to the vanilla there is more citrus influence. Hints of flowery perfume and grass. The palate has to get used to a subtle alcohol attack, but then a somewhat dry character takes over. Well, lots of vanilla, hints of wet cardboard, candy paper. The simplicity of it all is just a bit stunning.
Word to the Wise: Who follows the oldest independent bottler of Scotland closely, will know that Cadenhead’s has started finishing a lot of their output. I can fully imagine that this Teaninich could have used some enhancement from a second cask influence. As it stands, this is very pure, and that is delight too these days. Spirit driven malt that shines through austerity.
Score: 81 points.
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