Strathmill is a malt whisky distillery in Keith, converted in 1891 from a corn and flour mill.1,2,3 It took the name Strathmill in 1895, when the gin company W&A Gilbey bought it.2,4,5Diageo has owned it since 1997, and uses most of its spirit for J&B blended whisky.2,4,6
A bright, somewhat austere whisky with citrus, ginger, grainy notes and a nice apéritif character, though it lacks integration and uniqueness.
barley
chalk
citrus
clove
+14 more
By Ruben
Glenisla-Glenlivet, 1891–1895
Strathmill, 1895–today
189119502000Today
From mill to distillery
A. G. Johnstone set up a corn mill called Strathisla Mills on the site in 1823.2,5,7 In 1891 the mill became a distillery called Glenisla-Glenlivet, one of the first new distilleries of the 1890s whisky boom.1,2,3
Sources disagree: when it opened. This page uses 1891.
1891: Historic Environment Scotland, Wikipedia, Keith and District Heritage Group, Wikipedia (German)1,2,5,7
W&A Gilbey paid £9,500 for the distillery in 1895.2,4,5 The new name joins the Gaelic word strath, meaning shallow valley, with the site's past as a mill.2,4 In 1962 W&A Gilbey merged with United Wine Traders and with Justerini and Brooks to form International Distillers & Vintners.2,4,6 The new firm made malt whisky here for J&B blended whisky.2,4,6
Four stills
In about 1969 Justerini & Brooks (Scotland) Ltd enlarged the distillery, doubling its stills to four and adding purifiers.1,4,8 Purifiers act as small condensers, sending some alcohol vapour back into the still to be distilled again.1,4,8
In 1972 Watney Mann bought International Distillers & Vintners, and Grand Metropolitan bought Watney Mann the same year.4,9 Grand Metropolitan merged with Guinness to form Diageo in 1997.4,9
How it makes its spirit
Its water comes from a spring within the distillery, and it uses non peated malt.4 It has 6 steel washbacks, the tanks where sugary water from the mash ferments into wash.4 Fermentation lasts at least 60 hours, a long regime that helps create fruitiness.4
Outstanding review score, 90 out of 100