Port Dundas 16 Years Old 2006 Cask #314747 (Brave New Spirits)

This is a single grain Port Dundas, chosen and bottled by Brave New Spirits matured to 16 year old, from 2006, drawn from cask 314747 and bottled at 58%. 304 bottles in all. Once one of Glasgow's two grain distilleries, Port Dundas was first run in 1811 beside the Forth and Clyde Canal in Glasgow before being closed by Diageo in 2010. After closure its casks passed largely to independent bottlers and a few official releases.

Grain whisky like this was worked through continuous patent stills from unpeated wheat with a little malted barley, giving a delicate spirit that ages oak first. Refill American oak shaped it, soft wood that lets the grain lead. By this age grain takes on real character, the oak rounding it into a creamy whisky. Continuous distillation strips the heavier notes, leaving a clean canvas for the wood.

At a hearty 58% it shows real weight. A clear vanilla rises from the lignin, coconut follows from the lactones, and caramelised sugars a toffee and creme brulee note, over a clean, fruity grain base. A gentle spice and polished oak frame the sweetness. The finish is creamy and slow to fade. This is a piece of Glasgow distilling history in the glass.