Belgian importer Younger Charly lately secured a single cask from Glasgow distillery. The peated spirit was distilled in 2018. It matured in virgin white oak for round 4 years. Then it entered PX sherry casks from the small bodega Ximénez-Spínola.
Not all Glasgow expressions have been to my liking up to now, however the Ximénez-Spínola reference is certainly an asset right here.
Glasgow 1770 – 5 yo 2018 Peated (60,1%, OB ‘Belgium Unique #1’ 2024, Ximénez-Spínola PX sherry cask end, 120 btl.)
Nostril: mature Laphroaig anybody? In any case, exceeding expectations. Ashy and barely bacon-y smoke with crushed black peppercorns. Then there’s a candy fruitiness beneath, with bitter cherry, barbecued plums and purple berries. Autumnal leaves, scorched vanilla, hints of espresso and leather-based, in addition to a refined trace of mint. Actually good.
Mouth: similar prime quality. Loads of tobacco leaves, hints of cocoa and caramelized nuts. Candy peat smoke within the background, together with earthy notes, roasted espresso beans and delicate herbs. Nonetheless a bitter fruity edge. Mid-palate the tough virgin oak spice takes over (ginger, white pepper) however the sherry is large enough to stability them out.
End: lengthy, on cherries, chocolate, barely bitter wooden spice and candy smoke.
The prime quality sherry cask and the fantastically ashy smoke play nicely collectively. I did get echoes of outdated, sherried Laphroaig. Nonetheless, on the palate this may’t cover its youth (or fairly its first cask affect), however nonetheless it manages to maintain a pleasant stability between peat and sherry. One of the best from Glasgow I’ve had up to now. Obtainable from Younger Charly.
88
