 Clan Denny 1977 Strathclyde 33yo  
Strathclyde Distillery - Gorbals, Glasgow |
Tastes & Smells
The immediate impression is that of wood: a slight smell of virgin oak casking and wood varnish, with leather and engine oil adding to the woodshop vibes. It smelt a little fishy (in the literal sense) and a bit meaty - crackling - and was generally very different to the control (Hedonism). It was more subdued once tasted and had a smaller hit than the Strathclyde 32yo it was tasted with, although was still a decent impact compared to the more watery (if more refined) Hedonism. The leather is back, this time with red wine tannins for company, and there's a good bit of spice and mustiness. All this boils down to a taste summary of dry and sour, but it gets sweeter with the addition of water. There's chili tongue spice at the end and a medium-long finish and it's still sour and now a bit cloying. The chili spice keeps hitting the tongue but it holds together and remains dry (in a reasonably nice way).
Graintacular?
It's a great colour, almost looking sherried, and it's got a pretty distinct profile: woody, not creamy, which is surprising for a grain whisky. The leatheriness on the taste was really enjoyable but it had too much chili spice on the taste and finish. It got a little bit sour and cloying towards the end too, meaning you were left with a slightly uneasy impression, but a reasonable dram nonetheless.
Summary & Ramblings
It made me think of a chameleon going for a wasp: it was a bit subdued and began to blend in with its surrounding and then prepared to give you a reward, but it got a bit too stingy for real enjoyment. It's profile also gave thoughts towards trying to learn leather-working in a workshop (but ultimately finding it hard-going).
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Tasted on: 26/01/14
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  Tasted alongside a 32yo, this was so much darker.. |
tldr;
Interesting, if not delicious, dram - too much spice on the finish and the flavous not quite marrying. But an interesting grain whisky that's worth a try: an unusually dark colour for its age and it offers something a little different to the norm.