Dram data:
Distillery: Carsebridge
Bottler: The Grainman / Meadowside Blending
Distilled: 1982
Bottled: March 2016
Age: 33 years
Limitation: 258 bottles
Casks: Bourbon 74679
Alcohol: 48,9%
uncoloured/not chill filtered
Whiskybase link
Ah, an old Grain whisky from a distillery that closed in the early 80s when more whisky was made than consumed. Let’s see if shedding a tear for the closure of this grain spirit production plant is warranted …
Tasting notes:
Colour: dark straw
The nose starts off very well! Grainy goodness! We’ve got a hint of alcohol mixed with vanilla, cornflakes, hubba bubba, burnt molasses, caramel, all stored in grandma’s old oak spice cupboard. Not overly complex, which was to be expected, yet very entertaining and “old enough”. If there’s one thing grain whisky needs to shine on its own then it’s a good refill cask and lots and lots of time. This seems to have had both! Let’s move on to the palate! Very creamy and oily, very tongue-pleasing from the get-go. A hint of alcohol and caramelized orange peel, then the cornflakes, molasses, caramel, vanilla, toasted toffee, candyfloss and the old oak spice cupboard (complete with dust and herbs) make an appearance. Very nice combination of beefy spirit and oak complexity with neither dominating.
The long finish is thick and juicy upon swallowing, with the caramel, molasses and vanilla dominating before some of the oaky spices and herbs appear. It just stays that way until it’s gone…
Verdict: A very pleasant dram. Not the most complex, but grain whiskies are rarely that. Thick, oily, juicy with a nice balance between cask and spirit. Yep, we can shed a tear! Try finding a 33 year-old malt whisky of that calibre at that price (140€ when I bought mine).
Score: 87/100
(Nose: 86 Palate: 87 Finish: 87)