Review: Port Dundas Single Grain Whisky 12 Years Old and 18 Years Old
Review: Port Dundas Single Grain Whisky 12 Years Old and 18 Years Old
While the history of the distillery is complex, Diageo-owned Port Dundas has been producing single grain spirit since the mid-1800s, making it one of the oldest grain distilleries in Scotland. At least until 2010, when it was shuttered. The whisky that flowed from these Glasgow-based stills was used far and wide in blends like Johnnie Walker, J&B, and more. To honor this storied but now silent still, Diageo is releasing two single grain expressions that bear the Port Dundas name, drawn from now restricted stock.
Let’s look at these two limited release expressions, a 12 year old and an 18 year old bottling.
Port Dundas Single Grain Whisky 12 Years Old – No surprises on the nose, which offers heavy cereal notes and some astringent hospital character, alongside some root vegetable character. On the palate, things brighten up, the grains offering up some notes of lemongrass and dark brown sugar — but counterbalanced by notes of mushroom and wet earth. On the whole it drinks like a very light style of blended Scotch, which isn’t a slight, but which isn’t the biggest compliment I have in my pocket, either. 80 proof. B / $50
Port Dundas Single Grain Whisky 18 Years Old – A clear step up from the 12, this is single grain firing on all cylinders. The nose is much more dense, with aromas of nuts, toffee, flamed orange oil, and a wisp of smoke. On the palate, the slightly higher alcohol level makes all the difference, rounding out the mouthfeel with some welcome oiliness and punching up the body with notes of spiced nuts, more toffee, vanilla custard, cinnamon toast, and some menthol, particularly on the finish. Unlike the simplistic 12, this expression drinks closer to a quality single malt, offering both complexity and boldness, elegance and power. Definitely worth seeking out. 86 proof. A- / $100
Port Dundas Single Grain Whisky 12 Years Old
$50
Your first sentence is incorrect, in more than one way. There were two separate distilleries called Port Dundas, which merged in the 1870’s. There was no single grain whisky being made anywhere in Scotland in 1810, decades before the invention of the continuous still. The two Port Dundas distilleries originally made malt whisky with pot stills, and weren’t fitted with continuous stills until 1845.
Moretears – was trying to simplify the history but obviously mucked it up. Anyway, thanks for clarifying; sentence tweaked.