Scotland’s fastest-growing independent bottler Saltire Rare Malt has unveiled a 20-year-old single grain whiskey from the shuttered Port Dundas distillery, marking three milestones for the company. The limited release features the company’s oldest bottling to date, its first single grain expression, and an ultra-rare finish in virgin Japanese Mizunara oak casks.
The 558-bottle release launches September 12, representing another chapter in Saltire’s Lost Distillery Series that honors Scotland’s vanished whiskey landmarks.
Rare Japanese Oak Elevates Single Grain Whiskey
Port Dundas, which closed its doors in 2010, was once one of Scotland’s largest grain distilleries. The Lowland distillery operated for nearly 200 years before Diageo shuttered the facility as part of industry consolidation. This particular expression spent two decades maturing before its finish in virgin Mizunara oak, a wood type that commands premium prices due to the Japanese oak’s 200-year growth requirement before harvesting.
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Bottled at cask strength of 59.7% ABV without chill filtration or artificial coloring, the whiskey showcases what Saltire calls “a true collector’s piece.” The company enlisted Hans and Becky Offringa, known as The Whisky Couple and inductees of various whiskey halls of fame, to oversee the selection. Their official tasting notes describe “red fruit (cherries), cedar wood, waffles and maple syrup, warm leather” with comparisons to “a vintage convertible with leather upholstery and a wooden dashboard.”
Independent Bottler Celebrates Whisky Making
The release comes as independent bottlers gain traction in the global whiskey market, which reached $95 billion in 2023 according to IWSR. Mizunara-finished expressions have become particularly sought after.
“This latest release is a milestone – our oldest, rarest single grain, finished in the extraordinary Mizunara oak,” said Keith Rennie, Saltire Rare Malt founder and director. “It is both a celebration of the artistry of whisky-making and a tribute to the heritage of Scotland’s lost distilleries.”
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Founded by Rennie and Nigel Heywood after three decades of partnership in other ventures, Saltire Rare Malt launched in 2024 from Falkland, Fife. The town holds historical significance as the location where King James IV issued the first recorded order for Scotch whisky production in 1494. The company’s focus on limited releases from lost distilleries positions it within the growing segment of whiskey enthusiasts seeking rare expressions from shuttered facilities.
