Strathclyde 26 Years Old 1989 (Small Batch)

From Cadenhead's comes this Strathclyde matured to 26 year old from 1989 and bottled at 58.1%. The outturn was 354 bottles. Strathclyde was founded in 1927 in Glasgow, on the Clyde; it is the only grain distillery in Glasgow. Twin Coffey stills run on wheat, with water drawn from Loch Katrine.

It was drawn off continuous Coffey stills from a wheat mash, for a delicate spirit that leans on the cask for flavour. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending coconut and vanilla. Long ageing brings a deep coconut, toffee and a mellow, polished oak. Light grain spirit takes oak readily, the ex-Bourbon lending coconut and vanilla. 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. Its grain whisky has long fed blends like Long John, Ballantine's and Chivas Regal. Twin Coffey stills run on wheat, the water drawn from Loch Katrine.

Undiluted at 58.1%, it is layered. The ex-Bourbon gives a sweet, oily vanilla. It is soft and deep, the grain and oak well matched. A long, oily finish carries a coconut lift. This is a rare single grain from the Clyde.