1970s Strathspey Speyside D. Cameron & Co. Ltd., Rothes on Spey

This is from D. Cameron & Co. Ltd., Rothes on Spey. 1970s bottling.

In the late 1970s, when this bottle is from (which we know due to the strength in proof and the volume in fluid ounces on the label), IDV owned just four distilleries. We can therefore assume that Strathspey is a combination of two or more of Auchroisk, Knockando, Strathmill and Glen Spey. From the name, it’s tempting to deduce that the latter has a leading role to play, but of course we can’t be sure – all of those distilleries are in Speyside, so all can be called Highland.

Nose: Autumn leaves and Ferrero Rocher. Cooked apples, old varnished wood and a faint, earthy, dusty character. Terry’s Chocolate Orange (the nice dark chocolate ones).

Palate: Medium weight, very soft and gentle mouthfeel. Delicious old tweedy, woody notes – church pews, sugared almonds, brazil nuts, Danish pastries, cold apple pie, vanilla chocolate.

Finish: A decent length, with the apple pie and a soft cinnamon tingle as the autumn leaves creep forward again.

Comment: You can’t ask for more from a whisky like this. So pleasant, so laughably easy to drink, so moreish. A truly autumnal dram, quite perfect for this time of year. To return from a long walk and settle down at twilight by the fire with a film noir or a good book and a hefty glass of this… simply heaven.