Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Brora (John Walker & Sons)

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Brora (John Walker & Sons) is a blended Scotch from John Walker & Sons. It marries malt and grain whiskies, with grain from lost distilleries such as Cambus. Cambus grain, from a distillery closed in 1993, lends a sweet, oily depth to such whiskies.

Grain lends a light, sweet frame while the malts bring depth. A refill American oak cask held it, building the sweet, oily grain character. The whiskies are married and rested before bottling. Closed grain distilleries like Cambus give these whiskies their backbone. The grain lends a light, sweet frame to the whole. Aged grain such as Cambus brings coconut, vanilla and a buttery oak to a blend. A blended grain marries grain whiskies from more than one distillery. The maker selects casks for the sweetness and depth each lends. Grain from lost distilleries gives such whiskies a rare, old character.

At 46% it is light and sweet. Coconut, vanilla, toffee and a soft oil run through it, with a creamy oak depth. A crème brûlée and a polished oak give it depth. Toffee and vanilla see out a long finish. A characterful blended Scotch drawing on grain from a vanished distillery.