Claxton Port Dundas 20 Year Old Single Grain Scotch

Built at the highest point in Glasgow on the banks of the Forth & Clyde Canal, closed in 2010 then demolished a year later. Port Dundas starts life as a light and sweet distillate with long barrel ageing slowly adding body and depth. Here, the whisky is let down by the lacklustre bouquet with atypically dry grain aromas suggesting pine wood and shredded coconut. It needs ample coaxing to tease out sweeter rum-like notes but rebounds completely on delivery: Peaches, cream, mouthcoating vanillas and impeccable American oak combine with a sustained freshness. Bounty bar and vanilla wafer melt into the aftertaste. An alpha cask that could pass for A-grade Bourbon. Also a bargain. Surprises like this are why we love indies!