Some distilleries just have a way of dominating whisky conversations. Springbank has held that crown for years, selling out releases in seconds and fueling an almost mythical level of demand. But the landscape is shifting, and newer names are muscling their way into the spotlight. The Glasgow Distillery, operating under their 1770 brand, is one of those names. The distillery’s limited 10-year-old single cask expression marked the distillery’s tenth anniversary, and vanished from shelves almost instantly.
Let me be upfront: I did not buy this bottle. My wallet remained firmly shut, and I sidestepped the hype and the dreaded FOMO entirely. Instead, I owe a debt of gratitude to Vin, a true whisky community original, who generously shared a portion of his bottle so I could experience it firsthand. With only 230 bottles released, most people will never get the chance to try this, so consider this my attempt to soften that sting a little.
I should also confess that I am something of a Glasgow fanboy. I have visited the distillery, I have spoken with members of their team, and I have genuinely loved several of their releases. But that fandom does not come without nuance. Not everything they have put out has clicked with me, and I have no relationship with the distillery beyond being a paying customer who happens to be enthusiastic about what they do.
On to the whisky itself. This is a single cask, fully refilled bourbon maturation, bottled at a punchy 54% ABV and priced at a commendable 69 pounds. That restraint on pricing deserves real praise. Glasgow could easily have pushed this into the high nineties and still watched every bottle disappear.
On the nose, it delivers waves of fruit: strawberries, citrus, an orangey marmalade quality, and a creamy banana note with a hint of coconut chocolate lurking underneath.
The palate is where it truly shines. Think apple pie, buttery pastry, custard cream biscuits, and a lemon brightness that stays on the right side of fresh rather than soapy. The texture is dense, chewy, and satisfyingly full at that ABV without ever becoming harsh.
It is a whisky that lets you taste the quality of the spirit itself, clean and confident before the cask even enters the conversation. Compared to their superb peated PX expression, this is a completely different animal, but it holds its own beautifully. It reminded me slightly of the Cotswolds Founders Cask, though with significantly more fruit, ester character, and a lovely yogurty quality that lingers.
This is a hearty, raw, natural punch of a whisky, and it confirms what I have suspected for a while: Glasgow Distillery’s double-distilled, unpeated spirit is genuinely high-quality liquid. The hype around this distillery is not a fleeting fad. It is well earned. I sincerely hope the 230 people who secured a bottle are opening them and enjoying them rather than letting them gather dust. This is too good to be a shelf collector’s trophy.
If you were lucky enough to get one, I would love to hear your thoughts. And for everyone else: which newer distillery do you think deserves to be the next name on everyone’s lips?
For a more detailed breakdown and to experience the full tasting, watch my review on YouTube.
Read the full article at The Glasgow Distillery’s First Age Statement Whisky Did Not Disappoint
