Glasgow Distillery Launches Its First Single Malt Scotch Whisky!

(L-R) Liam Hughes, Mike Hayward and Ian McDougall, co-founders of The Glasgow Distillery Company, raise a dram to toast 1770, their first whisky release. Picture Copyright Chris Watt

The New Spirit of Glasgow:
Glasgow Distillery Launches Its First Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The Glasgow Distillery Company, the first independent single malt distillery to open in the city since 1902, and makers of the international award-winning Makar Gin, has announced the launch of 1770 Glasgow Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

With only 5,000 bottles existing globally, bottles will be allocated via a ballot with online registration opening today, Friday 9th March.

Named 1770 in a nod to the city’s forgotten past (the original Glasgow Distillery, now long-gone, was founded that year), the single malt is said to represent the beginnings of a renaissance for single malt whisky in the area.

Created and crafted by the forward-thinking team at the distillery, with young and talented distillers at the core, state of the art equipment and traditional methods have been brought together to produce an exquisite product described as refreshing and warming, with hints of pear, rhubarb and custard on the nose, and a lingering peppery yet sweet finish.

Its founders say 1770 represents a bright new chapter; the “new spirit of Glasgow”. The single malt whisky’s hometown has transformed into a hotbed of innovation in recent years, with more new businesses and events setting up in Glasgow than ever before. It’s this spirited mentality that helped to inspire 1770.

Our surroundings have definitely shaped us, Glasgow is more industrious than industrial now – it’s somewhere that doesn’t stand still and always strives to better itself. And that’s exactly what we wanted for 1770; something distinctive, enterprising and of quality.

The city is now part of a new chapter in the world of single malt whisky, which is really exciting. Our 1770 shines a light on modern Scotland – we’ve produced something we are very proud of.
– Liam Hughes: CEO and co-founder of The Glasgow Distillery Company

Laid down in first fill ex-bourbon casks and finished for a short period in virgin oak, 1770 delivers a clean, full flavour from the very start. Non-chill filtered, it is bottled at 46% ABV.

The first few 1770 casks began to come of age this week, ahead of its official on-sale date of 3rd June. Those who register interest on glasgowdistillery.com between now and then will be entered into a ballot to be given the chance to purchase the limited new release, which will be delivered later in the year.

The exclusive 1770 tasting will take place at The Glasgow Distillery on Wednesday 21st March from 5pm. To be in with a chance of helping to shape how 1770 is described, visit the 1770 Whisky Facebook page, and comment on the dedicated Glasgow Tasting post by Friday 16th March. Winners will be contacted directly.

1770 is the first wave of single malt whisky to be released by The Glasgow Distillery Company – but not the last. In 2019 and 2020, peated and triple-distilled single malt expressions will be released as part of continued annual limited-edition releases.