Strathclyde 15 Years Old 2005 Cask #DMG14978 (Douglas McGibbon)

From Douglas McGibbon comes this Strathclyde, a 15 year old release from 2005, drawn from cask DMG14978 and bottled at 48%. Only 307 bottles were released. Set on the south bank of the Clyde in Glasgow, Strathclyde has made grain whisky since 1927. Twin Coffey stills run on wheat, with water drawn from Loch Katrine.

Distilled continuously in twin Coffey stills from wheat, giving a clean, high strength grain whisky. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending coconut and vanilla. Around two decades the grain gains a fuller toffee and an oily weight. Light grain spirit takes oak readily, the ex-Bourbon lending coconut and vanilla. Its grain whisky has long fed blends like Long John, Ballantine's and Chivas Regal. Twin Coffey stills run on wheat, the water drawn from Loch Katrine. The malt distillery Kinclaith lived inside its walls from 1957 until 1975. Single grain releases are rare, almost all of them from independent bottlers.

At cask strength 48% it is full bodied. The ex-Bourbon gives coconut, vanilla and toffee. It is soft and deep, the grain and oak well matched. A warming, sweet finish lingers. This is a rare single grain from the Clyde.