Cameronbridge 40 Years Old 1978 Cask #DL 12951 (XOP)

This Cameronbridge was from the independent bottler Douglas Laing, a 40 year old single grain distilled in 1978, from cask DL 12951 and bottled at 54.5%. A release of 207 bottles. Cameronbridge is a Lowland grain distillery in Fife, founded in 1824 by John Haig and now the largest distillery in Scotland. It was the home of continuous distillation in Scotland; John Haig installed Stein then Coffey stills and made the country's first commercial grain whisky.

The spirit was run off the distillery's three column stills from a wheat mash, to build a soft, sweet grain character. Ex-Bourbon casks held the grain, soft oak that drives the sweetness. At this age it is rich and waxy, the sweet grain folded into a buttery, oily body. Continuous distillation gives a light, clean spirit, so the cask drives much of the flavour. Since Port Dundas closed in 2010, it is Diageo's only wholly owned grain distillery.

Bottled at a cask strength 54.5%, it is rich. The ex-Bourbon gives a sweet, oily vanilla. The mouthfeel is oily, the coconut carried on a sweet body. A long, oily finish carries a coconut lift. This is a single grain from Scotland's largest grain distillery.