Glasgow 1770 Peated

Appreciation to a friend for this sample. This is my second tasting from this distillery, their peated expression. I was intrigued by this pour due to the distillery's use of heather-rich highland peat, similar to Highland Park, combined with ex-PX sherry casks, reminiscent of Highland Park's approach. The spirit was matured in virgin white oak, with a PX sherry finish. I'll take a moment to admire the liquid's thick, dark, and dense appearance in the glass. Wow, I hope this indicates richness and depth ahead... NOSE: A warm and gentle aroma with delicate floral smoke, sweet preserved fruit, and a resinous quality. Not much else stands out. The peat-smoke profile feels a bit dense, which is not negative, but not outstanding either. PALATE: A bright, slightly sharp, yet light and intriguing textural entry. The peat is the most prominent element for me, possessing a somewhat rubbery and ashy quality rather than the delicate floral or perfumed character I anticipated. Fresh orange juice adds a refreshing brightness to a full body of dark dried fruits. FINISH: Medium-short. The palate's flavors transition directly into the finish, where the smoke turns to ash with a slightly emerging grainy texture. And then it vanishes. I'm somewhat let down. While comparing it to Highland Park might be unfair, the combination of sherry casks and heathery peat almost necessitates it. Unfortunately, in my view, this bottling lacks the subtle complexity of a Highland Park malt. I feel I could apply my previous comments about the distillery's original bottling here: a straightforward delivery that doesn't develop much beyond the initial taste. The real disappointment is that the floral and perfumed notes from the supposed highland heathery peat haven't been revealed, and the sherry cask aging hasn't provided any complexity, nor has the virgin wood finish imparted any soft vanilla tones. The appearance of a deep, dark, luscious spirit doesn't match the taste. Nothing is inherently bad or unpleasant, but it's not something I'll actively seek out. [Price is for 500 ml] [Pictured alongside a 1.09 billion-year-old eudialyte-bearing nepheline syenite from the Kipawa alkaline igneous complex in western Quebec, Canada. This specimen features pink eudialyte, black arfvedsonite/katophorite, and whitish feldspars. A rougher, less visually appealing, but equally striking counterpart to the rock shown with the distillery's original bottling, much like this peated expression].

Nose: Woody, bonfire peat but with a soft, sweet character. Hints of dried fruit, cured bacon, vanilla nougat, and sherry, but peat is the dominant note. A pine aroma emerges over time. The empty glass smells like a burnt-out campfire. Palate: Upon arrival, the palate is sweet, soft, and smoky, with abundant dark fruit and raisins. Sweet orange juice and some tropical notes are also present. However, there's no evolution; the arrival simply transitions into the finish. The texture is quite light but pleasant. Finish: Short. The ashy, smoky, fruity notes from the initial taste recede into the distance but abruptly stop before reaching the horizon. A mild peppery flavor is present in the background throughout. One could criticize the nose for being one-dimensional, but it's a very pleasant dimension. While it lacks complexity, it evokes distant memories of Bowmore (good Bowmore, I must add) and even Lagavulin, possessing that rich, dark floral profile – but little else. Nonetheless, it's a good nose with no off-notes. The peat smoke expertly adds a touch of dryness that balances the inherent sweetness of the Glasgow distillate. The palate is simpler and somewhat disappointing for me, lacking complexity even more than the nose, though that's not necessarily a flaw. The issue is also a lack of weight; the palate and finish feel watery and shallow in texture, as if the whisky is hollow. There's certainly nothing objectionable here, and for a young spirit from a new distillery, it's a commendable effort. I'm enjoying this dram (which doesn't require water), but at this moment, it's not a whisky I'd choose for sipping neat. It would, however, serve as a very approachable introductory smoky whisky for beginners. It's good, competitively priced, but currently lacks sufficient intrigue. For now, I see it primarily competing with spirits like Monkey Shoulder. More established smoky single malts have nothing to fear from this newcomer yet, but the distillery shows promise. There's a spark of greatness here. "Above Average": 82/100 (3.25 stars)

(From a virtual tasting with Once Upon a Whisky – Glasgow Distillery on January 25, 2021). Nose: Dried fruit, raisin, vanilla, cocoa, sugar/caramel/toffee. Palate: Sweet smoke, orange/citrus, gentle light peat, baked herbs. Finish: Ash, tobacco, leather. A long, sweet smoke finish with PX sherry and licorice. A gentle spiciness lingers on the aftertaste. A delightful light, smoky dram. It's sweet and fruity, with notes of oak and wood. There's a slight sourness at the very end. Highly enjoyable! It ranked first among the five whiskies tasted, receiving 42% of the vote for the night's favorite. This was my personal favorite of the tasting.