The Glasgow distillery has announced the latest bottlings in its Small Batch Series of single malts – the Glasgow 1770 Cognac Cask Finish (pictured, below left) and Tokaji Cask Finish (pictured, below right). Both are the second batches of these whiskies to be released, but the first ever from the distillery to carry an age statement. Both are bottled at six years old, natural cask strength, non-chill filtered and of natural colour.
The Cognac Cask Finish Batch 02 features just five casks – three containing unpeated spirit and two lightly peated spirit. They were initially matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels before being transferred to ex-Cognac casks from France for the final three years and four months. The whisky is bottled at 58% ABV and there are just 2,250 bottles.
The Tokaji Cask Finish Batch 02 is a smaller run with just 1,300 bottles in the release. This features unpeated spirit that had initial maturation in ex-bourbon barrels. This was then transferred to ex-Tokaji sweet wine casks from Hungary for a further three years and six months. It is bottled at 54.8% ABV.
The Glasgow Distillery Co. began production in February 2015 and in doing so became the first distillery to produce single malt whisky in Glasgow in the modern era. The brand is named after the Dundashill distillery, which was Glasgow’s first ever whisky distillery and was founded in 1770. The Glasgow Distillery Co. was founded by Mike Hayward, Liam Hughes and Ian McDougall, and is located in Hillington to the west of the city. The distillery has an annual capacity of 270,000 litres and initial reaction to the single malts has already led to an expansion being planned.
Batch 02 of the Glasgow 1770 Cognac Cask Finish and Tokaji Cask Finish are available from the Glasgow distillery website and selected specialist whisky retailers in the UK. Both will cost £59 for a bottle.
Our Tasting Notes
Glasgow 1770 Cognac Cask Finish (Batch 02)
The colour is coppery gold and the nose is packed with cooked green orchard fruit aromas – imagine poached pear and stewed apple especially. These are supported by further aromas of butterscotch sauce, milk chocolate and a hint of star anise. Everything is bound together with an underlying peat smoke, which has a somewhat bitter and herbal edge.
On the palate it is this peat smoke that dominates to begin with. It begins in a soft and sweet manner, before becoming more bitter and acrid with a distinct ashy and herbal quality. This again binds everything as on the nose. With time sweeter and fruity notes are allowed to develop, and they push the peat smoke back a little.
Poached pear and baked apple kick things off and then give way to honey and sugar syrup characteristics. Hints of vanilla and white chocolate sit in the background, as do suggestions of cocoa powder and malted biscuits. Some spicy notes, especially cinnamon bark, adds a warmth and depth. The final element to come through is some drying oak. This, combined with the smoke, gives even more dryness to the finish.
Glasgow 1770 Tokaji Cask Finish (Batch 02)
The colour is vibrant gold and the nose is sweet and fruit. Initial aromas are of caramelised tropical fruit – think of pineapple, peach and mango especially – and this is underpinned by further aromas of brown sugar, golden syrup and heather honey. Then comes a whiff of cocoa powder, milk chocolate and some warming spices – imagine gingerbread and cinnamon in particular.
On the palate this whisky has a luscious and fruity feel. It is packed with juicy and ripe tropical notes (think of pineapple, mango and peach again, with some apricot and papaya) plus some plump sultana and candied lime. The combination is delicious. Then comes further sweetness in the form of golden syrup and honey – the honey has more of a savoury edge than on the nose and is reminiscent of manuka.
The second half of the palate is dominated by wood and spice. Warming notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger are complimented by some drying oak, which is reminiscent of pencil shavings, and bitter cocoa powder. A slightly burnt sugar characteristic also comes through towards the end.
