Glasgow Distillery continues wine cask exploration in whisky
THE Glasgow Distillery has unveiled its latest Small Batch Series of whisky with trio of new limited edition expressions made using different wine cask finishes.
Showcasing the distiller’s core whisky making house styles, the new trio embraces an unpeated, peated and triple distilled finish across the line with a different wine cask finish for each one.
First up is the Glasgow 1770 White Port Cask Finish which looks to explore a brighter and fruit-led expression made with the triple distilled spirit. Matured for over four years in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels before an extended finish in French oak White Port hogsheads, the resulting expression has been described as a vibrant and expressive whisky.
Bottled at 53.5% ABV and limited to only 730 bottles, Glasgow Distillery has called the expression a confident and contemporary take on a traditional lowland-style malt.
In contrast to the White Port finish, the Glasgow 1770 Amarone Cask Finish leans into a richness and depth. The distillery’s unpeated double-distilled spirit sits at the heart of this one after a five year maturation in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels as well as a near two-year process in Italian Amarone wine barrels.
The distiller has said the Amarone adds in layers of ripe berries, dark cherry and gentle floral notes alongside the warmth of white pepper from the whisky. Bottled at 53% ABV, the single malt has 1060 bottles available.
Finally, to round out the trio is the Glasgow 1770 Passito di Caluso Cask Finish that delivers a smoky spirit influenced in sweet Italian dessert wine casks. At the core is Glasgow 1770’s peated double-distilled spirit that has been matured in ex-Bourbon barrels before being transferred into Passito di Caluso hogsheads.
The Glasgow Distillery has said the combination of the smoky peated whisky and sweetness from the wine has delivered a “compelling expression” that brings a coastal salinity and embers wrapped in candied peach, dried apricot, salted caramel and dark fruit richness. Bottled at the highest ABV of the trio at 57.8%, Glasgow Distillery said this one delivers a powerful and expressive dram to round out the trio.
Each 700ml bottle comes with an RRP of £62 and is available for purchase across selected retailers.
Mike Hayward, founder at The Glasgow Distillery, said: “The Small Batch Series is where we allow ourselves to be curious. It represents the experimental side of the distillery and allows us to push the boundaries of cask finishing and explore how the flavour profile can evolve when you introduce new and intriguing influences.
“Each of these new releases showcase the versatility of our three house styles and reflects our belief that modern Scotch whisky should be as dynamic and creative as the city we call home.”
