Strathclyde 22 Years Old 1998 Cask #129501 (The Whisky Cellar)

The Whisky Cellar bottled this Strathclyde single grain matured to 22 year old from 1998, drawn from cask 129501 and bottled at 55.2%. Only 253 bottles were released. Strathclyde was founded in 1927 in Glasgow, on the Clyde; it is the only grain distillery in Glasgow. 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. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness to the sweet grain. Around two decades the grain gains a fuller toffee and an oily weight. The clean grain base lets the cask speak clearly across long years. 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 cask strength 55.2% it is full bodied. The Oloroso brings dried fruit and a nutty depth over the sweet grain. A crème brûlée and a polished oak give it depth. Toffee and vanilla see out a long finish. This is Strathclyde's sweet, oily single grain.