The Clydeside Distillery 6 Years Old

The Clydeside Distillery sits in the old Pumphouse on the Queen's Dock, on the banks of the River Clyde in Glasgow. It was opened in 2017 by Tim Morrison, of the Morrison whisky family, whose great grandfather John Morrison built the dock itself in the 1870s. Among the first malt distilleries to work in Glasgow in over a century, it draws its water from Loch Katrine. This Napier bottling, named for the Clyde's great shipbuilding heritage, is a 6 year old matured wholly in Oloroso sherry wood.

The spirit is distilled from Scottish barley in a single pair of copper stills, giving the light, fruity Lowland make the distillery is building its name on. Full maturation in Oloroso casks pulls that bright young spirit in a richer direction, the sherry wood lending dried fruit and a nutty depth while the fruit underneath stays fresh. At 46 percent it is bottled at a gentle, approachable strength.

On the palate it runs from raisin, fig and a toasted, walnut note from the Oloroso into the orchard fruit and soft citrus of the distillery character, with a touch of vanilla and a warm, lightly spiced finish. A sherried take on a young Glasgow malt, and a fine showing of what Clydeside spirit does in active wood.