Glasgow 1770 Ruby Port

I've had some of these bottles on my shelf for a few months now, the first is nearly half gone, time for a review!

One of my favourite distilleries and one of my favourite maturations - let's give it a try!

We visited Glasgow Distillery in August '24 and noticed quite a few port pipes in the Warehouse, I've been hassling Seb and Libby every since for a Port bottling and all they say is be patient...

Roll on less than 12 months and out comes a press release:

"This is a 6 year old bottling that marries together four casks. Initial maturation within first fill ex-bourbon barrels for 3 years and 10 months, and an extended 2 year and 10 month secondary maturation within Ruby Port casks.

The casks we have used for this bottling are American oak hogsheads that have been seasoned with Ruby Port. The extended secondary maturation of 2 years and 10 months for this first release has imbued our fruity whisky with lovely notes of summer berries and rich fruit.   

This is the first in a new series of permanent releases in our Glasgow 1770 Single Malt range. A series of bottlings that showcase a style of cask maturation we have found work perfectly with one of the whisky creation styles we make here at The Glasgow Distillery. These releases will each bear age statements that will progressively increase over the coming years."

Bottler notes:

 

A new 6 Year Old release that has initially been matured in first fill ex-bourbon casks before an extended secondary maturation with ruby port hogsheads. Presented at 55% ABV, this is a whisky packed with notes of vibrant vanilla, summer berries, dark cherry, almond, and a light pink peppercorn spice. 

A beautiful marriage of our unpeated double-distilled whisky creation style with a fruit-forward cask influence.

Cask Numbers: 18/1153, 18/1155, 18/1157, 18/1159 

Spirit: Unpeated double distilled

Batch number: 01

Initial Cask: First fill ex-bourbon barrel

Initial Cask Fill Date: 6th of October 2018

Initial Maturation Period: 3 years and 10 months

Secondary Cask: Ruby Port Hogshead

Secondary Cask Fill Date: 9th of August 2022

Secondary Maturation Period: 2 years and 10 months

Bottling Date: 9th of June 2025

Bottling Strength: 55% ABV

Outturn: 1200 bottles (700ml)

Availability: UK + Export

RRP: £57

Let's see what it's like.... 

Appearance: Ruby gold in the Glencairn, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin oily legs. 

 

Nose: thick berry jam, marzipan and hints of spice. There's blackberries, raspberries and black cherry, a little liquorice and a hint of ginger spice. A little time and air offers apples, poached pears and icing sugar.

Palate: thick sweet oily arrival, toffee, drying icing sugar and some cinnamon spice before the berries and cherries from the nose come through. There's a hint of liquorice, almonds and ripe plums. Dry spice left on the tongue as the liquid disappears. A few more sips (or drams!) offer orange zest and a little peach.

Finish: lingering berry sweetness, cinnamon spice and citrus peel.

Overall: Well I'd been waiting for this for a long time so it's going to be great yeah? Well yes it is, getting 2/3 through my first bottle before I write a review tells the story - this is a lovely dram to take your time with, sit and enjoy, let the world go by. A lot of the distillery character is still here despite the long 'finish' and I'm looking forward to finishing this bottle, and a few more, as the nights draw in and it get's colder - open fire anyone?

The Driven By Drams gang (and friends) at the distillery!