Strathclyde 31 Years Old 1987 Cask #62307 (Elixir)

A Strathclyde single grain, selected and bottled by Elixir Distillers matured to 31 year old from 1987, drawn from cask 62307 and bottled at 46.9%. 184 bottles in all. Strathclyde was founded in 1927 in Glasgow, on the Clyde; it is the only grain distillery in Glasgow. It is the only distillery left in Glasgow, once one of Scotland's great whisky cities.

It was drawn off continuous Coffey stills from a wheat mash, for a delicate spirit that leans on the cask for flavour. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla and crème brûlée. Long ageing brings a deep coconut, toffee and a mellow, polished oak. Decades in oak build a waxy, polished depth over the clean spirit. Single grain releases are rare, almost all of them from independent bottlers. Light grain spirit takes oak readily, so long ageing brings out coconut and toffee. The distillery sits in the Gorbals on the south bank of the Clyde.

At a hearty 46.9% it carries real weight. The ex-Bourbon gives sweet vanilla and a buttery coconut. The mouthfeel is oily, the coconut carried on a sweet body. Toffee and vanilla see out a long finish. This is a soft, dessert sweet Lowland grain whisky.