The Glasgow Distillery Company recently announced the launch of their first distillery exclusive single malt whisky, The Coopers’ Cask Release. The result of a collaboration between The Glasgow Distillery and US-based Kelvin Cooperage, the new release is launched in celebration of what’s described as the ancient skill of coopering – the art of creating casks made from wooden staves bound by metal hoops. The Coopers’ Cask Release takes the unpeated spirit from an ex-port cask filled by the Glasgow Distillery in 2015, and lays it to rest in a hand-built cask consisting of half heavily charred virgin oak staves from Kelvin Cooperage and half ex-Glasgow 1770 Single Malt cask staves from the distillery. The result is a balanced single malt with soft notes of honey, summer fruits and toffee, with a long, rich and slightly spicy finish, according to official tasting notes.
“We are delighted to be collaborating with The Glasgow Distillery on The Coopers’ Cask Release,” Owner of Kelvin Cooperage Paul McLaughlin said in a prepared statement. “The Coopers’ Cask has been launched with the vision to bring our craftsmanship and expertise back to our home city of Glasgow in a way that is truly unique. This is Glasgow-distilled single malt, matured in a hand-built cask made by not just one, but two sets of Glasgow hands.” Each individually numbered bottle comes packaged in an individually numbered presentation carton containing a booklet that tells the tale behind the collaboration cask. The spirit is non-chill filtered and natural in colour, bottled at a strength of 53.3% ABV. With only 403 bottlings available.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: notes of summer orchard and berry fruits, with peaches, plums and raspberries, open up to succulent toffee and notes of sweet vanilla.
- Palate: Tropical fruit and biscuit on the palate with sweet peaches and toffee apples lead to rich honey with subtle layers of warm spice and a hint of soft liquorice.
- Finish: The finish is long and smooth with hints of summer blossom harmoniously balanced with lingering tropical fruit and spice.