Whisky: Strathclyde 29 Year (1993), Thompson Brothers

Country/Region: Scotland/Lowland Grain

ABV: 57.1%

Cask: Refill Barrels

Age: 29 Years (Distilled 1993, Bottled 2023)

Nose: Woody, creamy, fried dough, vanilla, custard, banana, digestif biscuits, maple syrup.

Palate: Medium-bodied, custard, cream, maple, banana, brown sugar, vanilla, digestif biscuits, wood and pepper with time.

Finish: Medium to long and drying with wood, pepper, molasses, and buttery biscuits.

Score: 6 (77)

Mental Image: Banana Custard Donuts

Narrative & Notes: Creamy custard and fried dough— the aroma fell somewhere between a Boston cream pie and a vanilla custard stuffed malasada displayed on a long wooden counter. Hints of banana pudding, digestif biscuits, ‘Nilla Wafers, and maple syrup lingered in the background. Medium-bodied, the flavor profile reprised similar themes: plenty of custardy cream with hints of maple, banana, brown sugar, and vanilla. Digestif biscuits and vanilla cream cookies developed with more time as a tannic woodiness and spirited pepper gradually pushed in. The finish was medium to long and drying with wood, pepper, molasses, and buttery biscuits.

A good grain is like a comfy blanket and I tend to rate Strathclyde as one of the more characterful and enjoyable single grain distilleries— given enough time and a neutral cask, their whiskies often remind me of custard and fried pastries, two of my favorite things. As with many single grain whiskies, this lacked much depth or complexity, with a fairly narrow band of flavors though it showcased its age well with a good balance on the palate and long finish.

Overall, I am rarely in the mood for single grain whiskies— but when I am, I tend to look for Strathclyde.