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KWM 2020 Whisky Calendar Day 21: That Boutique-y Whisky Co. Strathclyde 31 Year Old

Posted on November 7, 2021

by Evan

We are going all Boutique-y once more: behind Door Twenty-one lives the oldest whisky in the 2020 KWM Whisky Calendar by a whole four years! This is the Strathclyde 31 Year Old Single Grain Scotch from That Boutique-y Whisky Company.



This Strathclyde whisky marks the second Single Grain Scotch Whisky in this year's KWM Whisky Calendar, and possibly only second in this style we have ever put in during the six years of making our own Whisky Calendar. The first Single Grain was from a closed distillery we tasted back on Day Three. So, what is the deal with Strathclyde?

Seriously, I am asking.

I honestly don't know much about Strathclyde Distillery off the top of my dome. I have only tasted a handful of bottlings from this distillery that I can recall - most of them have been from indie bottler Cadenhead. Give me some time and I will get back to you with a bit more information, okay?

--- Hours Later ---

Phew! Okay, so here's the deal: Strathclyde is a Distillery located in Glasgow, on the South side of the River Clyde which bisects Scotland's largest city. Like many Grain Distilleries that have come and gone or still exist, the Glasgow location means that it resides in the Lowlands region-wise. Strathclyde was one of two Single Grain Whisky-producing distilleries in Glasgow until Port Dundas Distillery was closed in 2009. With the recent boom times that Scotch Whisky has enjoyed, there have been a few other distilleries popping up in the city along the River Clyde but all of them are dwarfed production-wise by this veritable Grain Whisky factory.

Strathclyde's history begins in 1927 on the site which previously held a cotton mill. It did not start producing Grain Whisky until nine years later in 1936 - before that, it focused on making neutral grain spirit used for gin. For a nearly two-decade period between 1957 and 1975 Strathclyde also housed a set of pot stills that produced Single Malt Whisky that was called Kinclaith.

The Grain Whisky Complex is owned by Chivas Brothers/Pernod Ricard and has been the company's only such distillery under that Pernod Ricard ownership. Since it is capable of producing more than 40 million litres of spirit per annum, which cover's most of the company's needs for its blends. Strathclyde's Grain Whisky is used in the number two and number three best-selling Blended Scotch Whisky brands Ballantine's and Chivas Regal.

No official bottlings of Strathclyde Single Grain Scotch are currently being released by Pernod Ricard - not a shock since the company doesn't do a very good job at showcasing many of its own distilleries. There have been a few different indie bottlings of Strathclyde to make up for Pernod-Ricard's shortsightedness such as Cadenhead, Cooper's Choice, and this mini from That Boutique-y Whisky Company which we are tasting today.

Trying to identify the grain whisky influence in a Blended Scotch, or attempting to differentiate Single Grain and Single Malt Scotch Whisky can be difficult if you don't know what you are looking for. Tasting another Single Grain Scotch on its own should help us with both in the future.

How will this 31-Year-Old Strathclyde compare to the 27 Year Old Cambus we tasted on Day three? Let's give it a go, with a mind towards the differences and similarities between the two!

That Boutique-y Whisky Company Strathclyde Batch 4 - 31 Year Old - 45%

Evan's Tasting Note

Nose: Wood and Carpenter's Glue, soft citrus (grapefruit, lemon, lime), peaches and cream, yellow kiwis, bananas, vanilla and almond butter.

Palate: Sprite and ginger ale mixed together, bubbles and all, leading to a nice creamy texture. More apples, bananas, almond butter plus glazed pastries and a touch of marzipan.

Finish: Soft wood spices mingle with tingling citrus notes on the fade.

Comment: Smooth and easy drinking Single Grain Whisky with a nice bit of wood spice and citrus that keeps it all interesting and tasty.

This Strathclyde has less woodiness and wood spice and leads with more citrus than the Cambus did. Both have the lighter body and creaminess I find typical of Single Grains.

That was the 3rd bottling from That Boutique-y Whisky Company to grace our Whisky Calendar this year. What will tomorrow bring? Stay tuned!

Cheers,
Evan
evan@kensingtonwinemarket.com
Twitter and Instagram: @sagelikefool

This entry was posted in Store, Whisky, Tastings, KWM Whisky Calendar 2020, Whisky Calendars

 

 

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