Strathmill is not a distillery you’ll often hear mentioned in single malt circles. Tucked away in Speyside, it has only ever seen one official bottling, with the vast majority of its output disappearing into blends such as J&B, Old Masters, and Dunhill. Independent releases are few and far between, which makes a dram like this all the more exciting: the Strathmill 1994 Càrn Mòr “Celebration of the Cask” 24 Year Old.
Distillery Background
Founded in 1891 as the Glenisla-Glenlivet Distillery, Strathmill changed hands just four years later and was renamed to its current identity. Today, the Speyside distillery forms part of the Diageo portfolio. While rarely bottled as a single malt, Strathmill is said to produce a spirit with a delicately soft profile, helped in part by unique purifier arms and condensers.
About the Bottling
This particular release comes from Càrn Mòr, the independent bottling arm of Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers. Distilled in June 1994 and matured for 24 years in a single ex-bourbon hogshead, it was bottled in January 2019 at a natural cask strength of 47.2% ABV. Only 217 bottles were produced.
That ABV might look low for a cask strength whisky, but it reflects the natural evaporation and slow reduction that can happen in Scotland’s cooler, damp climate. Unlike many younger whiskies on the market, no colouring has been added — and it shows.
Whisky Review
For a whisky with 24 years in oak, the colour is strikingly pale: a delicate straw gold. It stands in stark contrast to many whiskies that appear far darker thanks to the addition of E150a caramel colouring. Thick, oily legs form in the glass, promising texture and body.
Nose: Opens with wet straw and grain, underpinned by a hint of vanilla. It’s soft, subtle, and not overly expressive.
Palate: Creamy vanilla and gentle chocolate notes lead the way, layered with biscuity and oat-like flavours reminiscent of butterscotch or porridge. A faint note of apple sweetness emerges with time in the glass.
Finish: The texture is rich and coating, with a toasty warmth that lingers.
What stands out is how grain-driven the profile is — not raw or unbalanced as in a youthful malt, but harmonised, mature, and rounded from decades in cask.
Final Thoughts
Although labelled as part of Càrn Mòr’s “Celebration of the Cask” series, this particular release feels more like a celebration of the grain. The ex-bourbon hogshead appears to have been relatively inactive, acting more as a patient vessel than a flavour driver. This allowed the underlying spirit — and the natural character of the grain — to take centre stage.
The Strathmill 1994 Càrn Mòr “Celebration of the Cask” 24 Year Old is a rare treat. It’s not about bold oak or heavy cask influence; instead, it showcases how time and the right conditions can let the spirit itself evolve into something delicately complex. With only 217 bottles released, it’s a whisky that many enthusiasts may never encounter — but one that beautifully illustrates a different side of Scotch maturation.