An Amazing Find from a Favorite Ghost Distillery
Port Dundas was one of the most important distilleries in Scotland you’ve never heard of. The distillery was built way back in 1811 and at a high point churned out 39 million liters a year of high-quality grain whisky. Just 1km from Glasgow’s city center, it served as backbone for both the local economy as well as several famous old blends like Johnnie Walker, J&B, Haig and Buchanan’s. But the old distillery could not fend off the insurmountable pressure of modern whisky efficiency and was up demolished in 2011. Along with Cambus and Garnheath, the Port Dundas distillery is one of the few closed Scotch distilleries that we continue to have access to, but we’ve managed to keep the prices of these rare ghost distilleries very low thanks to our good relationships in Scotland. One of the most expressive and complex Single Grain Scotches in our portfolio, offering exceptional depth of fruit and texture in contrast to the more subtle coconut and woodsy qualities of some of its sister casks, this Port Dundas is the perfect whisky to open your eyes and palate to the exciting (and affordable) world of Single Grain Scotch. We’ve strived to offer an array of Single Grain Single Cask Scotch at extremely affordable prices, but the three decades for under $100 benchmark that we’ve worked so hard to deliver seem less and less achievable as uncertainty in the world markets and incredible demand for these special products continues to skyrocket. So take advantage of this incredible value before the United Kingdom dissolves completely!
Built in 1811, Port Dundas grew throughout the 19th and early 20th century by absorbing neighboring producers. It quickly became Scotland’s largest distillery. During its long history on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal in Glasgow, this grain whisky powerhouse provided much of the juice for the Johnnie Walker and White Horse blended whiskies. With Diageo’s expansion and modernization of Cameronbridge in the early 2000s, production at Port Dundas ceased, and in 2011 the landmark site was completely demolished. That closure makes this 28 year old single grain whisky a veritable piece of history. And at the same time, one of the most affordable ghost distilleries available on the market. Nearly every time we have the opportunity to purchase old grain from Port Dundas at this kind of price, we have to take it. The whisky is too enjoyable to pass up. Just as it’s been a workhorse for blenders for 200 years, it’s a workhorse in nearly every K&L staff member’s whisky collection.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 17, 2019
I often talk about how Single Grain shouldn’t be seen as some type of Single Malt light or an offshoot of bourbon, but should really be treated as a stand-alone category that should be judge on its own merits. That’s why we thought it was so important to offer a diverse selection of well-aged grain at reasonable prices. We’ve managed to amass a collection of nearly ever active grain distillery (save for Girvan) along with several ghost distillers all in the $100 range and absolutely delicious. Anybody who can wrap their brains and palates around the subtle complexities of grain whisky should consider amassing as many of these awesome examples as they can afford, not only for the exquisite learning experience, but simply because we’re not sure when we’ll have this kind of broad access again. This lovely Port Dundas is not the typical thing we get on these grains. Subtle is normally the name of the game, but this Dundas pops right out of the glass with a tinned pineapple, bake apples, toffee and lemon meringue. The oak is very much on the back burner with the vibrant zesty fruit taking over. Touches of savory cereal qualities come in for a growing finish that goes darker and exhibits tiny bits of oak char and vanilla bean. A fun one that’s more expressive than your average grain.
Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 15, 2019
Sugar, spice, and everything… tropical! That’s what this grain whisky is made of. I pick up on aromas of warm brown sugar, clove and cinnamon, along with banana bread, toasted coconut, and candied pineapple. The bready qualities stand out more on the palate with warming spice and some supple leather flavors that stick to the tongue. The light brown sugar and leather notes continue into a long finish with spice that warms up through the end tying together with a menthol flourish. Quite delectable.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 14, 2019
Markedly tropical, this casks displays that special characteristic that whisky can sometimes take on after 25ish+ years. Coconuts and pineapples, it’s one of my favorite hallmarks of old grain. I have no idea how or why the chemistry shakes out so that distillate of a grass mixed with years in a tree creates tropical fruits, but I dig it and I’m glad it does. Of course you also have gobs of the usual suspects, oranges, vanillas, baking spices, but the story of this bottle lies between Capricorn and Cancer. Those sweet tones carry from nose through to the finish.
