The Glasgow Distillery Co. 1770 Glasgow 2020 Cask #20/1399, 20/1400, 20/1401

This official 1770 Glasgow single malt, a 5 year old from 2020, drawn from cask 20/1399, 20/1400, 20/1401 and bottled at 56.6%. 980 bottles in all. Based in Hillington in the southwest of Glasgow, The Glasgow Distillery Company has made single malt since 2015. Makar Gin came first, in 2014, and helped fund the return of whisky to the city.

It was distilled twice in copper pot stills for a fruity spirit, building the Fresh and Fruity house style. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla and a soft apple. The distillery treats wood as the main lever on a spirit still finding its age. Water is drawn from Loch Katrine, and the whisky is bottled at natural colour without chill filtration. It sits in Hillington Business Park in the southwest of Glasgow, just off the M8. Founders Liam Hughes and Mike Hayward set out to bring single malt back to the city. The stills are named for the founders' families and for the MacDonald artist sisters.

At cask strength 56.6% it is muscular. A fresh, fruity sweetness lead, and the ex-Bourbon lends vanilla, honey and a soft apple. It is bright and full, the young spirit shining through. The finish runs fresh, lively and clean. This is a young, fruity Glasgow single malt.