Strathclyde 20 Years Old 2005 Distilleries of Great Britain & Ireland Commemorative (James Eadie)

This Strathclyde was from the independent bottler James Eadie, a 20 year old grain whisky from 2005 and bottled at 52.9%. The outturn was 364 bottles. Strathclyde, founded in 1927 by Seager Evans in the Gorbals, Glasgow, is a Glasgow grain distillery. The malt distillery Kinclaith lived inside its walls from 1957 until 1975.

It was worked through continuous column stills from wheat, for the light, sweet grain spirit the distillery is known for. Maturation in a sherry cask laid dried fruit over the oily grain. Mid age brings a deeper coconut and a buttery, dessert sweetness. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the sweet, oily core over decades. It is now part of the Chivas Brothers stable, working quietly in the city. Glasgow once held distilleries across the city; today only Strathclyde remains. Aged single grain has become prized for its soft, oily, dessert sweet character. The continuous still gives a clean, high strength spirit that mellows with years.

At its natural 52.9% it is concentrated. The Marsala lends raisin and brown sugar to the sweet grain. A butterscotch and a creamy oak lift it. A sweet, coconut led finish lingers. This is the light, sweet grain style of Strathclyde.