Port Dundas 16 Year Old The Ghost Of The Canal 58%
An unusual and rarely seen single grain bottling here from the closed Port Dundas distillery. The Glasgow producer was mothballed in 2011 and later demolished – meaning once whiskies like this are gone, they really are no more. Brave New Spirits managed to get hold of a 16 year old cask and released it as part of its Cask Noir collection. What adds to the allure is that it’s been matured in a first-fill wine barrel from Château Lafite! The celebrated Pauillac producer makes tremendous wines, and this is a flavoursome release indeed.
Nose: An aromatic delight, sandalwood, barley sugar and cola cube sweets lift from the glass. There’s liquorice and gentle black pepper in there, alongside a slight vanilla ice cream note.
Palate: Awash with sweet tobacco, rich nutmeg and lively cinnamon, coffee and deep clove notes add a robust base. Really unusual with orange oil and a slight hint of leafy menthol coming through, too.
Finish: Long, lingering, and the clove gets a little smoky.