Strathclyde 12 Years Old 2005 Cask #DL 12922 (Old Particular)

Douglas Laing bottled this Strathclyde single grain, a 12 year old from 2005, drawn from cask DL 12922 and bottled at 48.4%. A release of 153 bottles. Strathclyde was built in 1927 in Glasgow, on the Clyde, and it is one of Scotland's largest grain distilleries. Its grain whisky goes into blends such as Long John, Ballantine's and Chivas Regal.

It was drawn off continuous Coffey stills from a wheat mash, for a delicate spirit that leans on the cask for flavour. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. At a youthful age the spirit is bright, sweet and clean. The clean grain base lets the cask speak clearly across long years. 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. Light grain spirit takes oak readily, so long ageing brings out coconut and toffee.

At 48.4%, undiluted, it is deep and sweet. The Pedro Ximenez lends raisin, date and treacle over a sweet grain. A crème brûlée and a polished oak give it depth. A long, oily finish carries a coconut lift. This is Strathclyde's sweet, oily single grain.