Strathclyde 32 Years Old 1987 Private Stock (Douglas Laing)

Douglas Laing selected this Strathclyde matured to 32 year old from 1987 and bottled at 43.9%. The outturn was 172 bottles. Strathclyde was established in 1927 on the south bank of the Clyde in Glasgow; it has made grain whisky for nearly a century. It is now part of the Chivas Brothers stable, quietly working by the Clyde.

Distilled continuously in twin Coffey stills from wheat, giving a clean, high strength grain whisky. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, American oak giving coconut and toffee. 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. 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. Strathclyde takes its name from the old region around Glasgow. Decades in ex-Bourbon wood turn light grain into a rich, oily whisky.

At a natural 43.9% it is full and oily. The ex-Bourbon gives butterscotch, coconut and cream. The texture is oily and buttery, the sweetness coating. Toffee and vanilla see out a long finish. This is a clean, oily single grain of real age.