Strathmill 12 Year Old 2011 – Asta Morris Tasting Notes Posted by bounty.hunter – 04/06/2024 06:30 Distillery: Strathmill Region: Scotland (Speyside) Bottling: Strathmill 12 Year Old 2011/2024 Asta Morris, Bourbon cask (#AM159), 286 bottles Colour: Light gold ABV: 51.0% A soft little candy Recently, I was a guest at Bar Terroir in the heart of Ghent (formerly Gouts & Couleurs, now under a new name, new menu, but the same fantastic people and service – absolutely worth a visit!). The reason for my visit was a tasting organised by Jeroen from Care For Craft Spirits, presenting the new Asta Morris releases. You could say Bert Bruyneel himself was the guest speaker, but in true “Zotte Bert” fashion he left most of the talking to Jeroen. We had a great time, full of humour and – more importantly – excellent whisky. The evening kicked off with a young Strathmill, a Speyside distillery that has since stopped producing malt whisky altogether and has fully pivoted to gin, believe it or not! On the nose, this is a soft little candy. Vanilla, caramel, digestive biscuits, hay, and a basket of yellow fruit in various stages of ripeness. A very inviting opening. On the palate, again a soft little candy. Despite the ABV giving it enough backbone, this remains a wonderfully approachable “session whisky” – the best kind – where the fruity, sweet notes from the nose return clearly, complemented by just enough woody spice to add a gentle kick. It seems deceptively simple, but is quietly quite complex. The finish brings back all the flavours once more, with a pleasant subtle bitterness on its final fade. Lovely. This is a true easy-drinking Speyside whisky that goes down so smoothly you might easily overlook its hidden complexity. A textbook Speyside treat. And at around €75, it’s an absolute steal. 86/100 Tasted by Mark Dermul on 30-05-2024