We fell in love with Single Grain scotch on a trip to Scotland in 2017. The intense richness and creamy, sweetness of this whisky made us think of the American palate and the great patrons of the American whiskey world.
Single Grain Scotch is kind of the long-lost cousin of single malt scotch. The “single” in the name means that the product was made at a single distillery, but unlike single malt, single grain doesn’t need to be made from barley, nor does the grain need to be malted. Instead, single grain whiskies are often made from a blend of barley, wheat and corn.
We were able to find some old and delicious Single Grain Scotch from a distillery that no longer exists – Port Dundas! Auld Blow-in is 14 years old and is bottled at 55% abv (110 Proof). It’s a great sipper to be enjoyed at the end of a glorious evening when the conversation deepens and matters. We recommend drinking it neat in a classic dram glass (glen cairn) with a few drops of water or, if you are feeling adventur-ous, try it in a Rob Roy or a Rusty Nail – you will be pleasantly surprised!!
MASH-BILL OR BLEND: Barley, rye and American corn. We do not know the exact percentages of each.
DISTILLATION STATE & CITY: Port Dundas Distillery – Glasgow, Scotland
The Port Dundas distillery was built in 1811 at the highest point in the city of Glasgow. At its peak Port Dundas was the largest distillery in Scotland. By 1885, its three Coffey and five pot stills were producing over two million gallons a year and was using ‘American corn’, barley, and rye. Port Dundas is no longer in operation which makes Auld Blow-in a little nostalgic. In 2010, its owner Diageo decided to consolidate its grain production at the vastly expanded Cameronbridge distillery. In 2011, production ceased at Port Dundas and the site was demol-ished.
PROOF: 110
CURRENT BATCH #: N/A
CASES PRODUCED: 300
TASTING NOTES: Auld Blow-in, like a lot of Scotch, is light in color because of being aged in used barrels. The nose is mild and sweet. There is an intense sweetness upfront that progresses into a more nuanced sweetness providing notes of warmed cream and cooked vanilla. There are also definitely notes of honey and oats. The finish is satisfying and surprisingly long.
