Strathclyde 30 Years Old 1990 Cask #64110096 (Duncan Taylor)

Bottled by Duncan Taylor, this Strathclyde, a 30 year old from 1990, drawn from cask 64110096 and bottled at 48.3%. Only 248 bottles were released. Strathclyde was built in 1927 in the Gorbals, Glasgow, and it is one of Scotland's largest grain distilleries. Built first for neutral grain spirit for gin, it entered whisky with the Long John brand in 1936.

It was worked through continuous column stills from wheat, for the light, sweet grain spirit the distillery is known for. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness to the sweet grain. Beyond twenty five years the grain grows deep and oily, coconut, butterscotch and crème brûlée over polished oak. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the sweet, oily core over decades. The continuous still gives a clean, high strength spirit that mellows with years. Strathclyde takes its name from the old region around Glasgow.

Bottled at a cask strength 48.3%, it is rich. The Oloroso brings dried fruit and a nutty depth over the sweet grain. It is clean and sweet, the grain spirit shining through. It closes long, sweet and oily. This is a single grain from Glasgow's only grain distillery.