Carsebridge 43 Years Old 1976 Cask #DL 13717 (XOP)

From the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, a 43 year old Carsebridge single grain, distilled in 1976, from cask DL 13717, bottled at 50.7%, one of 210 bottles. Carsebridge, a lost grain distillery in Clackmannanshire, fell silent in 1983. Its cooperage outlived the distillery, working until 2011 when it moved to Cambus.

It was made in Coffey stills before the distillery closed, for the light, sweet grain spirit Carsebridge was known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, American oak giving coconut and toffee over the years. At over four decades the light grain has turned deep and resinous, sotolon, coconut and old polished oak. Long ageing turns light grain into a deep, oily, dessert sweet whisky. It was transferred to Scottish Grain Distillers in 1966 and closed in 1983 in the DCL consolidation. Grain whisky like this rewards very long maturation, the wood giving most of the character. No more will ever be made, the distillery silent since 1983.

At 50.7%, undiluted, it is deep and sweet. Oak lactones lend a deep coconut and vanillin a sweet vanilla, with a crème brûlée richness. It is clean and sweet, the old grain shining through. A long, oily finish carries a coconut lift. This is a rare single grain from Carsebridge, silent since 1983.