Strathclyde 34 Years Old 1989 (Authentic Collection)

Cadenhead's bottled this Strathclyde single grain, a 34 year old release from 1989 and bottled at 51.1%. A release of 366 bottles. Set by the Clyde in the Gorbals, Strathclyde has made grain whisky since 1927. Its grain whisky goes into blends such as Long John, Ballantine's and Chivas Regal.

The spirit was made in twin Coffey stills, the wash run from wheat, for a clean, sweet grain make of real purity. Maturation in a sherry cask laid dried fruit over the oily grain. Past twenty five years the spirit turns oily and dessert sweet while staying clean. The clean grain base lets the cask speak clearly across long years. 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. The malt distillery Kinclaith lived inside its walls from 1957 until 1975.

At 51.1%, undiluted, it is deep and sweet. The Oloroso brings dried fruit and a nutty depth over the sweet grain. A crème brûlée and a polished oak give it depth. The finish runs buttery, soft and warm. This is Strathclyde's sweet, oily single grain.