Port Dundas 16 Years Old 2009 Cask #317921 (The Caskhound)

This Port Dundas grain was from the independent bottler The Caskhound, a 16 year old from 2009, drawn from cask 317921 and bottled at 58.1%. Only 171 bottles were released. Port Dundas was a vast Glasgow grain distillery, established in 1811 on the Glasgow canal and shut in 2010 and demolished soon after. A founding member of the grain combine DCL in 1877, it supplied blenders across the country.

Distilled from a wheat mash drawn on Loch Katrine water and run through the distillery's continuous Coffey stills, it began as the light, sweet spirit grain whisky is known for. A red wine cask shaped it, the tannins and pigments lending red berry, blackcurrant and a baking spice edge. By this age grain takes on real character, the oak rounding it into a creamy whisky. Filled at around sixty eight percent, the spirit slowly drew colour and sweetness from the wood.

At a full 58.1% it is deep and strong. The wine cask brings berry fruit and a spiced edge, while lignin gives vanilla, oak lactones lend a soft coconut, and a creme brulee and butterscotch note, above the gentle grain sweetness beneath. A light citrus and soft tropical fruit run beneath the sweetness. The finish is long and softly drying. This is a rare survivor from a demolished grain works.