Carsebridge 40 Years Old 1976 Cask #130948 (Signatory)

A 40 year old Carsebridge from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 1976, from cask 130948, bottled at 52.8%, one of 138 bottles. Carsebridge was founded in 1799 by John Bald, and became one of the largest grain distilleries in Scotland. It switched from malt to grain in 1852, installing two of the new Coffey continuous stills.

It was distilled in continuous column stills for a light, sweet grain, building the gentle Lowland grain style. Ex-Bourbon casks held the grain for decades, soft oak that drives the sweetness. Ethereal and old, oak lactones give a profound coconut and vanillin a waxy vanilla, over tropical fruit and mellow oak. Decades in cask build a waxy, polished depth over the light Carsebridge spirit. The clean grain base lets the cask speak clearly across the long years. The buildings were demolished in 1992, though the old manager's house still stands. Closed in 1983 and demolished in 1992, its profile is fixed for good.

Bottled at a cask strength 52.8%, it is rich. The ex-Bourbon gives coconut from oak lactones and vanilla from vanillin, over a buttery toffee. A creme brulee and a polished oak give it depth. The close is long, dessert sweet over oak. This is an old Lowland single grain of real character.