Belgian importer Young Charly recently secured a single cask from Glasgow distillery. The peated spirit was distilled in 2018. It matured in virgin white oak for around 4 years. Then it entered PX sherry casks from the small bodega Ximénez-Spínola.
Not all Glasgow expressions have been to my liking so far, but the Ximénez-Spínola reference is definitely an asset here.
Glasgow 1770 – 5 yo 2018 Peated (60,1%, OB ‘Belgium Exclusive #1’ 2024, Ximénez-Spínola PX sherry cask finish, 120 btl.)
Nose: mature Laphroaig anyone? In any case, exceeding expectations. Ashy and slightly bacon-y smoke with crushed black peppercorns. Then there’s a sweet fruitiness underneath, with sour cherry, barbecued plums and red berries. Autumnal leaves, scorched vanilla, hints of coffee and leather, as well as a subtle hint of mint. Really good.
Mouth: same high quality. Plenty of tobacco leaves, hints of cocoa and caramelized nuts. Sweet peat smoke in the background, along with earthy notes, roasted coffee beans and gentle herbs. Still a sour fruity edge. Mid-palate the rough virgin oak spice takes over (ginger, white pepper) but the sherry is big enough to balance them out.
Finish: long, on cherries, chocolate, slightly bitter wood spice and sweet smoke.
The high quality sherry cask and the beautifully ashy smoke play well together. I did get echoes of old, sherried Laphroaig. However, on the palate this can’t hide its youth (or rather its first cask influence), but still it manages to keep a nice balance between peat and sherry. The best from Glasgow I’ve had so far. Available from Young Charly.