From the era before Diageo, when United Distillers stood behind the bottle, this is an original bottling from a distillery that today exists only in the history books.

Expert Review

Port Dundas United Distillers Original Bottling Single Grain Scotch Whisky 40% is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% ABV.

Distillery: Port Dundas. Bottler: United Distillers. This original bottling dates from before Diageo took over the United Distillers name, and represents an early, official release from the now-closed grain distillery in Glasgow.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is light with grain, vanilla and a mild sweetness.

Palate

The palate is soft and simple, with toffee and a light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is short and soft, with lingering grain.

Specifications

Name: Port Dundas United Distillers Original Bottling Single Grain Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Port Dundas
Bottler: United Distillers
Region: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Original Bottling

Flavour Profile

Light · Sweet · Classic

Investment Potential

As an original distillery bottling from the now-defunct United Distillers, and from a distillery that no longer produces spirit, this bottle ranks among the rarer official Port Dundas releases.

Did You Know?

United Distillers existed only for a short period in the 1990s, before the company became part of Diageo in 1997 – bottles carrying this name on the label are therefore a window into a specific period of whisky history.

See our full range of Port Dundas

A lighthouse cuts through fog and darkness, night after night, year after year. The Observatory is named for Scotland's many coastal lighthouses and celebrates that same patient endurance in its own long maturation.

Expert description

The Observatory 20 Years is a Single Grain Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% ABV from the Signature Series, distilled at the Macduff distillery, also known for producing the Single Malt whisky Glen Deveron.

The lighthouse on the box is the series' recurring symbol, referencing the many lighthouses that line Scotland's coastline and have guided sailors safely to harbour for centuries. The series was created by master blender Stephanie Macleod, one of the industry's few female master blenders.

The whisky has matured for 20 years in a combination of used sherry casks and Virgin Oak, a pairing that gives this grain whisky an unusual depth and complexity more often associated with single malt than single grain.

The result is an unusually soft mouthfeel with pronounced sherry sweetness, vanilla and dark chocolate, setting it apart from the lighter, more neutral style many associate with grain whisky.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet sherry and toasted vanilla meet fresh summer berries and a touch of citrus.

Palate

Mouth-filling and soft, with ripe grapes, vanilla and cane sugar sweetness.

Finish

Warm and dry, with a lightly spiced close.

Specifications

Name: The Observatory
Distillery: Macduff
Series: Signature Series
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 20 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry and Virgin Oak
EAN: 7640171033228

Flavour profile

Sherry-sweet · Vanilla · Soft

Investment potential

A 20-year-old Single Grain from a named source distillery is relatively rare on the market, since most grain whiskies are bottled far younger, giving The Observatory an interesting position for collectors with an interest in the grain category.

Did you know?

Single Grain whisky differs from Single Malt in that it is distilled from grains other than exclusively malted barley, often wheat or corn, typically on a continuous column still rather than traditional pot stills, giving a lighter, more neutral base character that here has been transformed by 20 years of cask maturation.