Glasgow Distillery launches its second malt whisky

Scotch whisky maker The Glasgow Distillery Company has launched a new malt whisky, following the success of its first release.

The Glasgow 1770 Peated Rich & Smoky, which is available to buy online, is the second whisky to be released for the distiller, which became the first operational single malt whisky distillery in Glasgow in over a hundred years when it opened in 2014.

The company – and the whisky – is named after one of Glasgow’s original distilleries, which was founded in 1770 at Dundashill and remained operational until the beginning of the 20th Century.

The launch  follows the distillery’s inaugural Peated Release No.1, which was matured in first-fill ex-sherry casks and finished in virgin oak, but which now only has a handful of bottles left for sale.

CEO and co-founder of The Glasgow Distillery Liam Hughes said the response to its inaugural Glasgow 1770 Peated was “phenomenal”, and the whisky had picked up a clutch of prestigious international awards

“After receiving such a fantastic response to our first smoky single malt, we have been working tirelessly to bring you something slightly different, but equally as impressive,” he said. “Our new expression has been laid to rest in virgin oak casks and finished in delicious Pedro Ximénez sherry hogsheads of the finest quality, giving the spirit not just a deeply delicious taste, but also an incredibly rich colour.”

The tasting notes describe the whisky as offering “sweet smoke and rich toffee” on the nose, along with “notes of vibrant vanilla, dried dark fruits and cracked black peppercorn spice with subtle hints of flamed orange.” The palate is dominated by “tobacco leaf and rich dark toffee… with a background of sweet soft peat and gentle earthy undertones” and a smooth finish with “notes of salted caramel, liquorice, and lingering spice”.

Last month the distillery announced the sales of limited edition casks priced between 5,000 (US$6,400) for a 200lr ex-Bourbon cask filled in July 2020, and £12,000 (US$15,000) for a 200-litre first fill ex-Bourbon barrel filled in May 2016, which would be available to the public for the first time. It had hand-picked the 40 unpeated, triple distilled and peated casks to see as part of its Cask Club programme, which was established to support the growth of the young business.