Glasgow 1770 Limited Edition Tokaji Cask Finish - 53%
From the distillery website
Cask No. 18/969 - Tokaji Cask Finish - Triple Distilled Single Malt. Only 380 individually numbered bottles, presented in a luxury display carton which is also individually numbered.
Triple Distilled using Concerto barley, this unpeated whisky was distilled on the 3rd of February 2018 and initially filled into a first fill ex-bourbon cask. On the 17th of December 2020 the spirit was filled into a Hungarian Tojaki Cask, before being bottled at 53.0% ABV on the 27th of October 2021.
A fantastically smooth single malt with honeyed notes of vanilla and toffee apples, poached pears and apricot preserve with a delicate and vibrant finish.
Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Yellow gold, forms a thin line which beads quickly before falling as slow, thin legs.
Nose: Caramel sweetness, vanilla, white chocolate, baked apples.
Palate: Noticeably alcohol forward at first, followed by vanilla caramel toffee, baked apples drizzled in honey, pears poached in white wine with a little ginger. A few drops of water reveals berried fruit and even a light sponge pudding note.
Finish: Medium in length. Maple syrup and warming baking spices.
Summary: This was the first of the 1770 Limited Editions sampled on the night, and something out of the ordinary with the use of the Hungarian Tokaji cask.
The first thing to say is that this is a lovely expression, the combination of the spirit with the sweet white wine cask is a pleasure on the palate. Whilst perfectly drinkable neat this is a whisky which, for me anyway, really benefits from a little water. Reducing the initial hit from the young spirit and opening up the whisky really maximises the experience and allows the orchard fruit to take centre stage. The emergence of that sponge note is quite delightful, when added to the baked apples and honey notes you get a real feel of ‘old school’ puddings.
It’s evident from the three limited editions we tried that this is a distillery with a deep understanding of their spirit and how to get the most out of it despite the tender age. It’s going to be fascinating to see what happens as we start to see longer maturations over the coming years. As always with these Glasgow bottles, the price for a 50cl size is quite high but you do get a decent bang for your buck.
If you would like more information on this whisky, or the Glasgow Distillery, follow the link to the company website.
This sample was part of a 5 dram tasting selection as part of a TweetTasting session organised by @TheWhiskyWire and the Glasgow Distillery.
Transparency: this sample pack was received free of charge for independent review. The author has no affiliation with the distillery, all opinions are my own and remain completely impartial.
