Carsebridge 45 Years Old 1976 Cask #DL 15621 (XOP)

The Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing bottled this Carsebridge single grain, a 45 year old, distilled in 1976, from cask DL 15621, bottled at 49%, one of 192 bottles. Carsebridge, a lost grain distillery in Clackmannanshire, fell silent in 1983. The buildings were demolished in 1992, though the old manager's house still stands.

It was distilled in continuous column stills for a light, sweet grain, for the light, sweet grain spirit Carsebridge was known for. Ex-Bourbon casks held the grain for decades, soft oak that drives the sweetness. At over four decades the light grain has turned deep and resinous, sotolon, coconut and old polished oak. The high strength spirit mellows slowly into a soft, sweet old grain. It switched from malt to grain in 1852, installing two of the new Coffey continuous stills. It was founded in 1799 by John Bald, near Alloa harbour, with coal close by and water from the Gartmorn Dam. Closed in 1983 and demolished in 1992, its profile is fixed for good.

At a hearty 49% it carries real weight. The ex-Bourbon gives coconut from oak lactones and vanilla from vanillin, over a buttery toffee. Beneath it run coconut, vanilla and a soft oil. The finish runs soft, sweet and warm. This is the deep, sweet old grain of Carsebridge.