Port Dundas 24 Years Old 1991 Cask #7 (Meadowside Blending)

Single grain Port Dundas, picked by Meadowside Blending, aged 24 year old, from 1991, drawn from cask 7 and bottled at 55.1%. Only 282 bottles were released. Built in 1811 above the city of Glasgow, Port Dundas grew into a landmark Glasgow grain works before being closed and cleared after 2010. After closure its casks passed largely to independent bottlers and a few official releases.

Grain whisky like this was made in patent column stills rather than pot stills on a wheat led mash with Loch Katrine water, giving a soft, clean grain spirit. Maturation in Oloroso sherry gave the grain a darker, nutty and dried fruit character. At this age grain grows rich and oily, the long oak contact building real depth. Each year in the warehouse softened the spirit and deepened the cask sweetness.

At a hearty 55.1% it shows real weight. Dark fruit and walnut come from the Oloroso, while the oak lends a soft vanilla, with coconut and cream from the lactones and caramelised wood sugars a toffee sweetness, over the orchard and tropical fruit of mature grain. There is a buttery, dessert like quality long aged grain does so well. A long, dessert sweet finish lingers. This is a piece of Glasgow distilling history in the glass.