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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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September 9, 2015 |
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Grainy Days, Part One,
North British and Cameronbridge |
I’ll say it again, I’m not a huge fan of grain whisky (which many are now trying to sell for the price of malt), and that may come from the fact that I’m rather in favour of spirit-driven whiskies, as opposed to wood-driven ones. And grain is often some rather neutral high-ethanol distillate that’s been flavoured with oak, wine, or both. Oh, and time, of course, so I’m not saying grain whisky just cannot be to my liking. I've had some excellent grain! So let’s have a few Scottish ones today, perhaps we could even try to compare various distilleries and check whether there are a few idiosyncrasies that may come from the spirit… |
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North British 29 yo 1985/2015 (46%, Cadenhead, Small Batch, single cask, 432 bottles)  I think North British used to distil maize, but I’m not sure that’s what they still do. Although that’s probably what they were still doing back in 1985. Colour: pale gold. Nose: as expected, not the most characterful spirit ever, and what we first get is a combination of fresh marzipan and fresh paint. Then rather white chocolate and custard powder, with quite some cut grass and green apples in the background. More a super-vodka so far, if I may… A touch of wood smoke. Mouth: rather raw, with the oak talking first, and then the grass. This feeling of vodka again. After that, rather lager beer and applejack, varnishy almonds, and some bourbon. Yep, which makes sense. Finish: rather short, letting the grassy part coat your palate. Comments: not quite my thing, it’s rather raw grain whisky, but I’m sure grain lovers will find it interesting. Now, maybe is it this year’s best vodka? I would have rather bottled it in a crystal decanter with diamonds and sold it for £5,000. SGP:460 - 75 points. |
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North British 21 yo (50.9%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, refill hogshead, 294 bottles, 2015)  No mention of a vintage, which is a little strange given that this is a single cask. What’s the rationale? Colour: white wine. Nose: younger and fruitier, which was more what I was expecting. Bubblegum, wine gums, custard, melon, grapes, pears… It’s youthful spirit, without much depth, but it wouldn’t kill anyone. With water: a pleasant smoothness. Tinned fruits, vanilla cream, perhaps a small touch of rubber. Mouth (neat): raw, but fruitier than the 29 yo. Tart fruits, jelly babies, lemon drops, and always a lot of grass. With water: yes, easy, sweet, rather creamy, uncomplicated. A good filler. Finish: rather short, grassier again. More tinned fruits and grass in the aftertaste. Comments: a pleasant spirit. But is this whisky? Well, we aren’t in 1909 anymore, are we? SGP:550 - 78 points. |
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Cameronbridge 30 yo 1979/2009 (51.2%, Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld, cask #3586, 181 bottles)  Duncan Taylor had a lot of old grain whiskies in their inventory. Those casks used to go into high-end blends in the old days. Colour: gold. Nose: much more happening in this one, probably thanks to some more active wood. Cake, shortbread, vanilla, a touch of varnish, sponge cake, light rum (Cuban style), tinned pineapples… It’s very easy and very pleasant. With water: I’m afraid it’s quite superb! Milk chocolate filled with banana jam – or something like that. Mouth: big, creamy, extremely fruity, with mangos (hurray) and bananas, and even a malty side. The oily mouth feel reminds me of Irish un-malted barley. In fact, this Cameronbridge is very Irish! With water: aye! Pineapples come out. Finish: quite long, very fruity, lively… More tropical fruits in the aftertaste. Comments: you’d think you have just tasted Midleton’s Very Rare! SGP:640 - 85 points. |
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Cameronbridge 25 yo 1990/2015 (60.6%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, refill butt, 282 bottles)  Colour: straw. Nose: closed, but that’s normal at this insane strength. Wood alcohol, perhaps. So, with water: no, sweet barley? It’s very simple, and yet it’s satisfyingly cerealy – despite a wee plankiness in the background. Mouth (neat): very creamy and sweet, with plenty of pineapples and green melons, plus lemon drops. Not much else, but once again, that may be the strength. With water: sweet, fruity, good. Bonbons, drops and gums aplenty, plus a little candy sugar. All that is coated with some sweet oak. More acidic fruits coming out as well, chiefly grapefruits. Finish: medium, clean, fruity, easy. Comments: very likeable easy grain whisky, with excellent fruity balance. Something of Tyrconnell this time. What would Beckham think? SGP:630 - 82 points. |
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