Strathclyde 29 Years Old 1993 (Phil & Simon Thompson)

A Strathclyde single grain, selected and bottled by Phil & Simon Thompson, a 29 year old release from 1993 and bottled at 57.1%. A release of 379 bottles. Set on the south bank of the Clyde in Glasgow, Strathclyde has made grain whisky since 1927. It is the only distillery left in Glasgow, once one of Scotland's great whisky cities.

Distilled continuously in twin Coffey stills from wheat, giving a clean, high strength grain whisky. A refill American oak cask held it, building the sweet, oily grain character. At this age it is rich and waxy, the sweet grain folded into a buttery, oily body. Maturation in ex-Bourbon wood suits the light, sweet grain particularly well. 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. The malt distillery Kinclaith lived inside its walls from 1957 until 1975. Single grain releases are rare, almost all of them from independent bottlers.

At 57.1%, undiluted, it is deep and sweet. The ex-Bourbon gives coconut, toffee and crème brûlée. The mouthfeel is oily, the coconut carried on a sweet body. A warming, sweet finish lingers. This is a soft, dessert sweet Lowland grain whisky.