Cambus 30 Years Old 1988 Cask #DL 13600 (XOP)

This Cambus was from the independent bottler Douglas Laing, a 30 year old single grain distilled in 1988, from cask DL 13600 and bottled at 46%. 336 bottles in all. A lost Lowland grain distillery near Alloa, Cambus distilled from around 1806 until 1993. Single grain Cambus is rare, mostly from independent bottlers, with the odd Diageo Special Release.

It was worked through continuous column stills from grain, for the light, sweet grain spirit Cambus was known for. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending coconut and vanilla. At this age it is rich and waxy, the sweet grain folded into a buttery, oily body. The clean grain base lets the cask speak clearly across long years. In 1906 its grain was advertised as not a headache in a gallon, helping win the What is Whisky case. Closed in 1993, the site is now a Diageo cooperage beside the Blackgrange warehouses. The spirit was drawn off two continuous Coffey stills, the water from the Lossburn Reservoir.

At 46% it is clean, oily and sweet. The ex-Bourbon gives a sweet, oily vanilla. A butterscotch and a creamy oak lift it. A sweet, coconut led finish lingers. This is an old Lowland single grain of real character.