Strathclyde 1994 3W (3006 Whisky (3W))

Bottled by 3006 Whisky (3W), this Strathclyde, a 29 year old from 1994, drawn from cask 456550 and bottled at 50%. Just 38 bottles were filled. Strathclyde was founded in 1927 by Seager Evans on an old cotton mill site in Glasgow, and it still makes grain whisky for the big blends. Built first for neutral grain spirit for gin, it entered whisky with the Long John brand in 1936.

The spirit was run through column stills, an analyser and a rectifier, on Loch Katrine water, to build a soft, sweet grain character. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending coconut and vanilla. Beyond twenty five years the grain grows deep and oily, coconut, butterscotch and crème brûlée over polished oak. Continuous column distillation gives a light, clean spirit, so the cask drives much of the flavour. Strathclyde is the only grain distillery in Glasgow, once one of Scotland's whisky cities. It was built by the gin distiller Seager Evans in 1927 on the site of an old cotton mill.

At a natural 50% it is full and oily. The ex-Bourbon gives toffee, vanilla and a soft oil. Beneath it run coconut, vanilla and a soft oil. It closes long, sweet and oily. This is a single grain from Glasgow's only grain distillery.