Ruby Tuesday – 28 year old – Girvan Distillery Port Cask

Notes from the Bottler:
Bright, fruity and stunningly coloured Scotch from the west coast.
Girvan distillery hugs the Ayrshire coast on a latitude with the stunning Ailsa Craig rock protruding from the sea. The same site is home to the renowned Ailsa Bay single malt.

The spirit was filled originally to ex–bourbon wood before being re-racked during maturation to a cask that is as unique as it gets. The butt was made the old school way – the staves were almost 4cm thick! They don’t make them like that anymore. This port cask had been used to mature old tawny port for over 60 years.
The effect this had on the Girvan liquid is outrageous. The colour has deepened to a deep garnet (hence the name) and the aroma springs out of the glass.

The angels really have feasted on the ABV of this spirit- between the rich port influence and the 28 years, this ABV has dropped to a natural cask strength of 54.1% ABV.

Distilled on 10th May 1996 and bottled in March 2025, with an Outturn of 649 bottles.
Non-chill filtered and natural colour.

NOSE
Red berries and stewed fruit accompany a deep woody spice. Grassy notes emerge with a few drops of water

PALATE
Sweeter and richer than expected. The dram washes round the mouth coating it like syrup, The creamy nature of single grain persists despite the unctuous overtones of tawny port, the pepper imparted by European oak and mature leathery chocolate

FINISH
The bright zing mellows to clootie dumpling sweetness which in turn melts into the creaminess of single grain and leaving a clove infused warmth.

54.1% ABV.