Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: SFW40 - Spink x Cask 88 E-Auction - e-Auction
Lot: 3

PORT DUNDAS-2009-#756146


Distillery: Port Dundas
Region: Lowlands
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon Hogshead
Peated?: No
Re-gauge ABV: 58.0%
Re-gauged Litres of Alcohol (RLA): 126.4 litres
New Bulk Litres: 218 litres
Re-gauge Date: 5th August 2022
Bottles: 311
Cask Number: 756146

One of the last casks ever filled at an awe-inspiring Glasgow grain whisky distillery

Cask Description

The Spirit
Port Dundas used to be the biggest distillery by capacity in the 1930s, with over two million gallons of spirit coming off their three Coffey and five pot stills every year. Their single grain whisky was conceived to be the backbone of flagship blends, but it is a fantastic spirit in its own right, and of particular interest to those who are discovering the joys of aged single grain whisky. Their use of barley and rye is common in Scottish grain whisky distilling, but the addition of American corn to the mix gives the spirit a full-bodied creaminess, which may have positioned them as a real innovator if their doors were still open today.

The Wood
Port Dundas owners Diageo also own American whisky brands Seagrams 7 Crown and Bulleit Bourbon, so it would not be unreasonable to assume that this ex-bourbon Hogshead previously held some of this liquid. Loved for its ability to accentuate oaky, sweet and vanilla notes in the whisky they hold, ex-bourbon cask maturation has brought appropriate depth of character to a spirit that was already developing a surprisingly full-bodied and floral character. This cask could withstand many more years, even decades, of maturation, so there is the opportunity to explore re-racking to take this spirit in a new direction.

The Masters
Owners Diageo announced the closure of the Port Dundas distillery in July 2009, so by the time this cask was filled in October 2009, the distillery was already in its final distilling days. As a result, this cask is full of some of the very last spirit to come off the stills at this former powerhouse. The Port Dundas stocks held by Diageo have been used in some of the most beloved blends of all time, including White Horse and Johnnie Walker, and only a handful of age statement expressions from this distillery have ever made it to market. To own one of the few remaining casks of spirit from the Port Dundas distillery is to own a true piece of whisky history.

The History
Port Dundas was a magnificent sight in central Glasgow - the largest combined single malt and single grain distillery in Scotland during the golden years of blended whisky. It owed its status to being constantly innovative. One of the first places to install the emerging Coffey Still technology before the blending boom made all lowlanders get them, and a pioneering user of corn and rye before they were cool, Port Dundas literally went against the grain. Their flame deserves to be carried further.



Tasting Notes

Nose:
The nose is an interesting interplay between floaty floral aromas, and smooth dairy. Green bananas, honeydew melon and rose petals lead, carried in on a wave of unsalted butter, vanilla creme anglaise and fresh burrata.

Palate:
Surprisingly full bodied for a grain whisky. Peach melba, gummy bears and pine resin are almost viscous on the tongue. Milk bottle gummies follow and turn the flavours towards an umami finish of beef tartare and walnut-spice. Quite a journey!

Estimate