Latest addition to the Glasgow 1770 Small Batch series! Following to success of previous small batch releases, Glasgow 1770 continue to explore new flavours with various cask finishes. The new serie is broadened with three new expressions: Glasgow 1770 Cognac Cask Finish – Batch 1, Glasgow 1770 Tokaji Cask Finish – Batch 1 and Glasgow 1770 Golden Beer Cask Finish – Batch 2.
I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to taste these 3 whiskies from the series. Now let’s get into the whiskies…
Glasgow 1770 Cognac Cask Finish – Batch 1 (Single Malt Scotch, 52% abv)
Glasgow 1770 Triple Distilled Cognac Cask Finish was first matured in first fill ex-bourbon casks for 2 years and 10 months before spending 2 and a half years in French Cognac puncheon casks. Bottled at 52% abv, this release is marriage of three casks, 18/965, 18/966 and 18/967.
Nose: Starts quite bright and fruity with apple, peach, grape and lemon with some floral notes. 52% abv shows itself, but not in a bad way. After first sniff more sweet notes such as jelly, toffee, honey and jam. Rich.
Palate: Sweet and creamy with vanilla, ginger, citrus and biscuits. Followed by toffee, more spices, oaky notes and juicy sweetness. Great balance of sweet and spice.
Finish: Long length finish with vanilla, citrus, toffee and ginger.
A complex and fruity Single Malt from the distillery, Glasgow 1770 Cognac Cask Finish – Batch 1 offers a rich profile on the nose and delicious palate with creamy texture and balanced flavours.
Rating: 87
Price at the time of tasting: £59 – Available at glasgowdistillery.com
Glasgow 1770 Tokaji Cask Finish – Peated Batch 1 (Single Malt Scotch, 53.4% abv)
Glasgow 1770 Tokaji Cask Finish – Batch 1 was initially matured in virgin American white oak that were initially filled with their peated new make spirit and then moved into Hungarian Tokaji hogsheads for 2 years and 8 months. Bottled at 53.4% abv with just 615 bottles available, this expression is the first Peated Tokaji single malt from the distillery.
Nose: My first reaction was wow… Quite interesting! Starts with smoked pineapple, mango, dried apricots, vanilla, smoked cheddar. Accompanied by smoke, pepper and hints of leather. After a few minutes more sweet nuances, with jam and honey. Complex.
Palate: Again quite complex. Smoked pineapple, honey, jam, orange, dried apricots, caramel and vanilla. Easy to sip and juicy. Thick and creamy texture.
Finish: Long-lasting with dried apricots, orange, honey and smoked.
Glasgow 1770 Tokaji Cask Finish – Peated Batch 1 is one those whiskies that I can smell all day and come up with different flavours with each smell. Nose is just amazing with great complexity. Palate is also multi-layered with a thick and creamy texture. Even the empty glass after you finished the whisky is amazing. My favourite among three bottles.
Rating: 88
Price at the time of tasting: £59 – Available at glasgowdistillery.com
Glasgow 1770 Golden Beer Cask Finish – Batch 2 (Single Malt Scotch, 58% abv)
Glasgow 1770 Golden Beer Cask Finish – Batch 2 is a limited edition release of 340 bottles at 58% ABV and part of distillery’s Collaboration Series. This one initially was matured in first fill ex-bourbon casks for three years and one month before moving for one year into a Pedro Ximenez sherry cask that previously held Innis & Gunn’s Golden Beer. This is the second batch of the distillery’s ‘Golden Beer Cask Finish’ collaboration with Innis & Gunn.
Nose: Starts with rich dark fruits, cherry, sultana, mandarin and orange peel. Accompanied by dark wood and vanilla. A little shy on the nose, needs a little time to reveal itself.
Palate: Dried fruits, honey, apricot, vanilla with some ginger, sweet spices and oak. Full-bodied with juicy texture. Start fruity, ends with a more oaky and spicy character.
Finish: Long finish with dried fruits, cinnamon, ginger and oak.
Another interesting bottle in the series, Glasgow 1770 Golden Beer Cask Finish – Batch 2 offers a bold but a little shy profile on the nose, however I think it shows itself a little more and better at the palate with sweet, spice and oak character.
Rating: 85
Price at the time of tasting: £64 – Available at glasgowdistillery.com
