Review #957 - Auld Blow-In Port Dundas 14 Year
Here we have an unusual bottling: the Backbone Bourbon Company, a non-distilling producer (NDP) based in Indiana, typically bottles American whiskies like MGP-distilled rye, but they've branched out and bottle a single grain Scotch. This single grain whisky originated at Port Dundas, a now-closed and demolished distillery which was once the largest spirit producer in Scotland.
While Port Dundas ceased production in 2010 (as owners Diageo focused on grain whisky production at Cameronbridge), there's still a decent amount of the distillate floating around the market since the distillery produced such a large volume. Backbone Bourbon Co. were able to source this 14 year whisky and bottle it at a solid strength of 55% ABV, yet the price is still quite reasonable around $40.
There's no specific cask type listed for this release, but most grain whisky starts out maturing in refill ex-bourbon casks; we're guessing that's the case here, too.
Auld Blow-In Port Dundas 14 Year
Scotland - Single Grain
Price: USD 45 (2026)
Age Statement: 14 Years
Strength: 55% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 13 months; bottles at 100%, 90%, and 80% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: An interesting mix of creamy vanilla and some raw alcohol, followed by light hints of grain and zesty lemon tart dessert. Butterscotch and hints of honey and apple continue the sweet side, but a glue note develops too. Overall, it leans toward synthetically sweet.
Palate: The mouthfeel is medium-thick, and it's a very spirity drinking experience - warming, peppery, youthful, and some hints of creamy grain again. Buttered popcorn, cinnamon, and lemon-lime soda arrive, and there's a hint of oak and fizzy apple in the background. The glue note from the nose also returns and becomes quite strong; there are accents of new make-like flavor.
Finish: Warm and spirity with flavors of dried grass, cream, tart pear and apple, and bread. The flavors mellow out, but the heat lingers, making the finish medium length despite relatively plain flavors; that spirity glue note and a bit of starchy oak linger in the aftertaste.
Final Note: We struggled to get to grips with this bottle of independent Port Dundas, as the tasting experience seemed quite varied across the months. Overall, we found it to have some strong raw alcohol and grain whisky notes, and that glue-like note that persisted across the experience sometimes came across almost like a rum funk.
If we had to guess, this grain whisky probably spent its maturation in a very dead ex-bourbon barrel, which is why it still comes across as so spirity and young despite an age of 14 years; knowing the grain whisky industry in Scotland, that cask choice wouldn't be a surprise. In general, we aren't fans of this bottle, but we did at least learn something from it.
Value is also low due to that lower score we assessed; we don't personally recommend this bottle.
Our Rating: 3.2 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 3.77
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Port Dundas reviews:
Review #596 - Signatory Vintage Port Dundas 16 Year Single Cask
