Carsebridge 50 Years Old 1965 Cask #HL 11847 (The Sovereign)

A Carsebridge single grain of a 50 year old chosen by the independent Hunter Laing, distilled in 1965, from cask HL 11847, bottled at 41.5%, one of 267 bottles. Carsebridge, by 1980 the largest grain distillery in Scotland, was closed three years later. It was transferred to Scottish Grain Distillers in 1966 and closed in 1983 in the DCL consolidation.

It was made in Coffey stills before the distillery closed, for the light, sweet grain spirit Carsebridge was known for. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, vanilla and crème brûlée building with age. At over four decades the light grain has turned deep and resinous, sotolon, coconut and old polished oak. Continuous distillation gives a light, clean spirit, so decades in oak drive much of the flavour. Grain whisky like this rewards very long maturation, the wood giving most of the character. The clean grain base lets the cask speak clearly across the long years. With Carsebridge gone, every bottle draws on a finite, dwindling stock.

At 41.5% it is smooth and sweet. Oak lactones lend a deep coconut and vanillin a sweet vanilla, with a crème brûlée richness. Coconut, toffee and a tropical fruit fill the middle. It finishes clean, sweet and buttery. This is the deep, sweet old grain of Carsebridge.