Cambus 29 Years Old 1988 Cask #59251 (Blackadder)

From Blackadder comes this Cambus, a 29 year old single grain distilled in 1988, from cask 59251 and bottled at 46.3%. Just 274 bottles were filled. Cambus, one of Scotland's oldest grain distilleries, ran near Alloa from about 1806 until its closure in 1993. With the distillery long closed, every bottle is drawn from a finite, dwindling stock.

It was drawn from Coffey stills on Lossburn Reservoir water, for a delicate spirit that leans on the cask with age. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak for decades, the wood adding coconut and vanilla. At this age it is rich and waxy, the sweet grain folded into a buttery, oily body. The high strength spirit mellows slowly into a soft, sweet old grain. The spirit was drawn off two continuous Coffey stills, the water from the Lossburn Reservoir. Single grain Cambus is rare, mostly from independent bottlers and the odd Diageo Special Release. Alfred Barnard visited in 1885, noting six huge warehouses holding seventeen thousand casks.

Bottled at 46.3%, it is rounded. The ex-Bourbon gives coconut, vanilla and toffee. It is soft and deep, the grain and oak well matched. The finish is deep, oily and creamy. This is the dessert sweet grain of silent Cambus.