1991 Cameronbridge 27 Year Old “Old Particular” Single Refill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Grain at K&L California – Scotch Whisky News
Scotch Season Starts with a Bang:
Mature Sherry Cask at a Remarkable Price
1991 Cameronbridge 27 Year Old “Old Particular” Single Refill Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($79.99)
We’ve said it before, but it is well worth stating again, the best values in terms of Scotch are the aged single grains we are bringing in directly from the region’s top distillers. King among them is Cameronbridge, one of the largest producers in Scotland. The 27 Year Old “Old Particular” featured here is among the more intriguing and irresistible single grains we’ve encountered. Aged in a Sherry cask, it is delightfully complex, offering up subtle tones of citrus, Christmas spice, and a pleasant creamy texture. Similar bottlings we’ve seen cost upwards of $200, making the value here incontestable. Aged single grain expressions like this one are increasingly capturing the attention of collectors, as they deliver a classic Scotch profile while costing a fraction of the price of their single malt counterparts. We’ve had some incredible single grain finds over the years, but this one might be the best yet. This would be an excellent addition to any Scotch collector’s arsenal. We can’t think of a better conclusion to a holiday meal than this satisfying dram from Cameronbridge, and with an age statement like this, it’s an impressive gift as well.
The Cameronbridge Grain Distillery is one of the largest alcohol producing facilities in Scotland. The site has been active since 1824, when the Haig Distillery opened. Just six years later, it would install the first “patent” column still and begin producing grain whisky. This was the beginning of a revolution that made Scotch the world’s bestselling whisky. The distillery has produced a significant quantity of the world’s Scotch whisky since its expansion in the 1960s. After a third column still was added from the closed Carsebridge distillery in 1984 and renovations in the ’90s, it was able to produce upwards of 140 million liters of spirit per year. We know a grain spirit is more a function of quality of the cask and time rather than the actual character of the spirit, so this rare refill sherry butt was immediately intriguing. This is the very first single grain we’ve ever bottled coming out of a proper sherry butt. We’ve seen other bottlers sell similar casks for more than $200. While it’s not impregnated with intense sherry like a first or second fill would be, it definitely has much more cask influence than most single grains we’ve bottled at this age. The theme here is sweet grain, creamy fruit, toasted spice and complex citrus peel. Creamy, spicy, complex and satisfying, there’s no reason this nearly 30-year-old whisky should be so inexpensive. We’ve had plenty of great old grain, but never has one been so good and cost so little.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 19, 2019
Single grain whisky occupies a fascinating spot in the drinking world. Rarely though about, often entirely unknown, yet utterly delicious and hugely appreciated by those in the know. Typically grain whisky is just regarded as the bulking agent in blended Scotch to stretch the flavorful malt farther. The grain for this purpose rarely reaches age statements that excite anyone. Young grain, while indeed quite tasty (think Nikka Coffey Grain), isn’t typically super compelling. When a cask reaches a ripe old age that could be talked about in decades, something magical happens. The soft grain starts to show cream and fruit notes. It develops tons of complexity in its own right. Add to that a well-matched cask, and you’ve got a cheap but wonderful whisky. This sherry butt—a rarity in the grain world—is the perfect partner for this 27 year old Cameronbridge. A first or second fill cask would frankly be too overpowering for the more subtle grain, this refill barrel complements the whisky perfectly. It adds just enough spicy kick and dried fruits to take this grain from merely tasty to exquisite. Pepper hits upfront, and cinnamon mingles in the finish. In this dram, cream envelopes singed orange peel and sultanas while caramel and vanilla abound. Similar casks hover around $200 bucks per bottle. Once again, there is simply no contest when compared with K&L’s ability to offer whisky direct from Scotland.
Alex Schroeder | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 19, 2019
It’s hard to argue with a deal like this. This has the kind of complexity and richness only whisky that has spent two and a half decades in a refill sherry butt can provide. On the nose, you’ll find cracked wheat, banana flambé, and even hints of tangerine fruitiness. The palate is creamy with soft toasty oak underlying a rich honey and fruit melange. The finish is long and lasting with fruits and toast. This is FULL flavored, complex, and utterly smooth.
