Dumbarton 22 Years Old 2000 Cask #211903 (Lady of the Glen)

A 22 year old Dumbarton from the bottler Lady of the Glen, distilled in 2000, from cask 211903, bottled at 62.1%, one of 182 bottles. Dumbarton was a Lowland grain distillery whose spirit went largely into the Ballantine's blend. Most of its make went into blends; single grain Dumbarton appears only from independent bottlers.

The spirit was drawn from the stainless steel columns on the banks of the Leven, for a delicate spirit that leans on the cask with age. A refill American oak cask held it, the wood lending the deep coconut of old grain. In the oxidative, evaporative years concentration deepens the oils, coconut, toffee and a tropical fruit emerging. Long ageing turns light grain into a deep, oily, dessert sweet whisky. It was taken over by Allied in 1987, and grain production later moved to Strathclyde. When it opened it was the largest continuous grain distillery in Scotland, and the first to use stainless steel columns. With Dumbarton gone, every bottle draws on a finite, dwindling stock.

At a hearty 62.1% it carries real weight. 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. Toffee and vanilla see out a long finish. This is the deep, sweet old grain of Dumbarton.