Girvan Proof Strength Single Grain / 57.1% / 0.7l

Built by William Grant & Sons in 1963, the Girvan Distillery is a modern and highly efficient grain distillery capable of producing 120 million litres of distillate per year.

Based in Ayrshire, the estate also produces Hendricks Gin and is home to the Ailsa Bay malt distillery. While most grain distilleries use corn as their main grain, Girvan’s formula is 90% wheat and 10% malted barley. Single grain whiskies are primarily used for blends, but in recent years there has been a surge in interest in the category. William Grant & Sons’ The Girvan Patent Still series debuted in late autumn 2013, including the Proof Strength version shown here. The whisky has been aged in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 100% British Proof (57.1% abv).

Nose : alcohol, vanilla extract, brown sugar, toffee, fruit candies, banana chips, apple peel, white pepper and oak chips.

Palate : sweet cereal, vanilla pudding, toffee, caramel, buttered bread, baked apples, candied citrus peel, ginger, cinnamon and oak.

Finish : medium long, alcoholic, with notes of vanilla, cooked fruit, pepper, ginger and toasted oak.