Strathisla 1988-2014 25 Year Old Official Distillery Exclusive Batch Number SI25001 53.2%

An exceptional Speyside malt with a maturity beyond its actual aging period. Strathisla STRATHISLA 1988-2014 25yo OB BATCH No.SI25001 53.2% The aroma expands gracefully with estery, matured fruity notes of pear, pineapple, orange oil, a pleasant malty character, good oak, and richness. On the palate, it begins with a smooth mouthfeel that expands into a rich, aromatic profile. The maturity is evident with orange oil and pear notes, balanced by pleasant sweetness and acidity, along with gentle malty umami. The finish is long and comforting. 【Very Good】 This Strathisla 1988, aged for 25 years, is available for purchase directly at the distillery. While it's a distillery-exclusive bottling, Pernod Ricamard-affiliated distilleries often offer such limited-edition bottles from their affiliated sites. The aroma carries a remarkably matured, estery complexity with diverse fruity expressions that might suggest aging over 30 years. Impressively, a pleasant malty character remains, alongside a rich oak profile without excessive maturity. Despite its high ABV, the mouthfeel is surprisingly soft, yet it expands into a richly aromatic profile. The fruity maturity evident in the aroma is also present on the palate, with elegant balance between sweetness and acidity. The interplay of estery/fruity nuances alongside the malty umami was particularly appealing, embodying a classic official bottling character. It seems unlikely Diageo would release such a cask, as these are typically reserved for limited-edition bottlings. This may represent one of the key differences in cask evaluation between Pernod Ricamard and Diageo.