Strathisla Distillery

The oldest distillery in Speyside still in operation, since 1786

Overview

Strathisla began in 1786 as Milltown distillery and had a succession of licensees until 1830 when William Longmore began 38 years of ownership. He had to rebuild substantially after a fire in 1876 and it was then that the distillery took on the appearance that we see today. It was also in the 1870s that the name was first changed to Strathisla. Much later, George Pomeroy, a London financier who owned the distillery until 1949, was jailed for tax evasion and the following year Seagram bought it through its subsidiary, Chivas Brothers.

The water with which Strathisla is made is drawn from the Fons Buliens, a spring that was documented by Dominican monks who lived nearby in the 12th century. There are two pairs of steam heated stills.

The Whisky

The spirit safe at Strathisla proudly announces when the distillery was established.

Strathisla begins placidly but fills out to quite mouth-filling proportions. Very fruity, sweet and herby with fine succulent zest and creamy, peaty intensity. The official issue is 12 years old at 43% vol. but independents offer a wide choice of 8- to 25-year-old and about a dozen vintages going back to 1948. It is the predominant malt at the heart of Chivas Regal and also graces a number of Seagram’s other blends, including 100 Pipers.

Content courtesy of www.uisge.com