Cambus 30 Years Old 1991 Cask #HL 18983 (The Sovereign)

This Cambus was from the independent bottler Hunter Laing matured to 30 year old distilled in 1991, from cask HL 18983 and bottled at 51.2%. A release of 281 bottles. Founded around 1806 by John Moubray, Cambus was a Lowland grain distillery that fell silent in 1993. Single grain Cambus is rare, mostly from independent bottlers, with the odd Diageo Special Release.

Distilled in continuous stills for a light, sweet grain spirit, building the gentle Cambus grain style. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, American oak giving coconut and toffee. At this age it is rich and waxy, the sweet grain folded into a buttery, oily body. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the sweet, oily core over decades. 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 a cask strength 51.2%, it is rich. The ex-Bourbon gives toffee, vanilla and a soft oil. A butterscotch and a creamy oak lift it. Crème brûlée and oak draw out the close. This is an old Lowland single grain of real character.