The Glasgow Distillery has released two limited edition expressions of its Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Whisky as part of a new ‘Small Batch Series’.

The two new releases – an unpeated expression finished in tequila and a peated whisky finished in cognac casks – are the first bottlings in the new collection of single malts, which aims to showcase the distillery’s collaborative approach to distilling and experimentation with a wide range of casks.

The Tequila Cask Finish and Cognac Cask Finish have been co-created by the whisky team at The Glasgow Distillery, in a project led by Co-Founder Mike Hayward.

Mike Hayward said: “The Small Batch Series is a premium range of whiskies we’re looking to introduce to the global marketplace.

“It will be an ongoing series of hand selected batched releases of single malts which will give our customers insight into the cask trials we run at the distillery and into the great whiskies we’re trying every day.

“The Cognac Cask Finish and Tequila Cask Finish are just the beginning of what will be an experimental range that reflect our ethos of exploration and innovation.”

Priced at £59 GBP inc. VAT, the limited-edition bottles will be available from the distillery website and at a selection of specialist retailers for UK customers from Tuesday the 23rd of August. Both expressions will be available in Germany, with the Cognac Cask Finish available for whisky fans in the Netherlands and South Korea.

The Cognac Cask Finish encompasses the distillery’s signature peated style of malt whisky, filled in 2018 into virgin American oak casks before a finishing period of over 12 months in premium French cognac casks. The combination of two casks gave an outturn of 882 70cl bottles, bottled at 56% ABV and offers notes of smoky BBQ sauce, dark fruits and earthy spice.

The Tequila Cask Finish is a single cask release of the distillery’s unpeated single malt, filled in 2018 into a first fill ex-bourbon cask before a finishing period of over 12 months in an ex-tequila cask. The resulting 295 70cl bottles are described as tasting of rich honey, fresh apples, pears and tropical fruits and have been bottled at 55% ABV.

Known for its distinctive, industrial influenced bottle design, The Glasgow Distillery have chosen vibrant, brighter colourways for the limited edition releases - reflecting the distinctiveness of the flavour profiles within.

Demonstrating the collaboration that lies at the heart of The Glasgow Distillery’s craft and that has been influential in the creation of this new Small Batch Series, each bottle features the signature of the member of the whisky making team that has led on each particular project, showcasing The Glasgow Distillery’s non-traditional approach to the ‘master blender’ role, instead opting to collaborate on the whisky creation process as a team.

The new limited editions follow on from the brands decision to move its Signature Range from 50cl bottles to 70cl, at no extra cost for the consumer as Glasgow 1770 increases its global presence.

Tasting notes and bottling details

Cognac Cask Finish – Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky

882 bottles | 56% ABV | non-chill filtered | natural colour

Notes of smoky BBQ, Dark fruits with a long, earthy and spicy finish

On the nose our signature peated spirit offers notes of smoky BBQ sauce, dark fruits, dried leather and sticky sweet tobacco.

The palate initially offers peat smoke accompanied by notes of soft brown sugar and crystalised ginger. Clove, cinnamon and woody spice mellows out to toasted earthy spices with more tobacco. There are fruity undertones throughout, including raspberries dipped in dark chocolate, dates and dried apricots.

The finish is smoky and very long lasting with notes of sweet malt, cacao, black coffee and gingerbread. 

Tequila Cask Finish – Unpeated Single Malt Scotch Whisky

295 bottles | 55% ABV | non-chill filtered | natural colour

Notes of rich honey, fresh green apples, orchard and tropical fruits

On the nose notes of light vanilla with a touch of fresh citrus fruits. Honeysuckle and floral heather combine with tropical pineapple, freshly plucked pears and crisp apples. 

The palate is bright and zesty with notes of summer strawberries, orchard fruits and tropical citrus. Rich honey and vanilla combine with notes of caramel and creamy shortbread leading to a soft cinnamon spice.  

The finish offers notes of vanilla shortbread with butterscotch, a hint of liquorice and a lasting, slightly sweet, white pepper spice.

About Glasgow 1770 Single Malts

Glasgow 1770 is The Glasgow Distillery’s signature single malt and demonstrates commitment to authenticity and quality, realising their mission as contemporary urban distillers. Honouring the heritage of single malt distilling in Glasgow by using the date 1770, paying homage to the original foundation of Glasgow Distillery, before its closure in 1902. Proudly handcrafted in their special copper pot stills, christened: Tara, Mhairi, Margaret and Frances, Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Scotch Whiskies combine barley and the exceptionally pure water of Loch Katrine to create the finest spirit. Matured in hand-selected casks, always non-chill filtered and only ever natural in colour, the Glasgow 1770 Signature Range consists of: The Original, Peated and Triple Distilled; three single malts of sublime quality that have successfully brought single malt whisky back to the city of Glasgow.

Peated and The Original were both awarded gold at The Scotch Whisky Awards in 2020 and 2021 as well as Triple Distilled recently winning gold at International Wine & Spirits Competition.  The full range has been named ‘Best Lowland Single Malt’ consecutively for the past four years at the International Whisky Competition.

 About The Glasgow Distillery

 The Glasgow Distillery Company was established in 2012, marking the creation of Glasgow's first independent single malt whisky distillery since 1902, with an unwavering mission to bring single malt distilling back to the city. The company produces an award-winning portfolio of brands, each inspired by the city’s rich past, including:

-       Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Launched in 2018, the distillery launched its first batch of single malt Scotch whisky with Release No. 1 selling out within days via an online ballot. The Original has subsequently been followed by the release of a Peated expression in 2019, and Triple Distilled expression in 2020, forming the distillery’s ‘Signature Range’.

-       Makar Gin, which boasts an impressive 60 international awards since launch in 2015, including World’s Best Flavoured Gin for their Makar Cherry expression.

-       Banditti Club Rum, which launched in 2019.

-       G52 Botanical Vodka, which consists of G52 Fresh Citrus and G52 Rich Coffee, which launched in February 2020.

-       Malt Riot Blended Malt, launched in 2020 it tells the story of the 1725 Malt Riots which started in Glasgow and spread across Scotland.

The Glasgow Distillery were awarded ‘Craft Producers of the Year’ at the Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky Awards in 2017 and 2019 as well as being named ‘Scottish Whisky Distillery of The Year’ at The Scottish Whisky Awards in 2020.

Provided by The Glasgow Distillery