2012 Cameronbridge 12 Year Old "Signatory" K&L Exclusive #268269 First Fill Bourbon Cask Strength Non Chillfiltered Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
I’m absolutely in love with this little pistol of a whisky. Distilled on the 4th of May 2012 and filled into a fresh first fill bourbon barrel, I honestly don’t remember if or when I’ve ever tried a single grain this age in a first fill barrel. And I’m sad. I’m sad cause I love this style, and I realize that we might not get to play with fun funky little grains like this in the future, at least not at this incredible price. It’s just CRAZY how affordable this is. And it’s true that for many drinkers who pick this up not realizing what they’re getting into, they might get a bit smacked around. Clocking in at a cool 125.8 proof, it’s simply to tense and wild to jump in without some knowledge of what it is. But, if you can take a step back and appreciate how lucky we are to have access to this interesting and unusual whiskies at less than $40, you’ll see why I love it so much. I think single grains need to have water added a bit more slowly than malt, so take your time with that too. Here it is. The color is an unbelievably pretty - deep gold (0.8). The heady abv is obvious off the bat but does not get in the way of the lovely, sweet cereal and toasted vanilla character. Hints of Walker’s Short Bread, muesli, cake frosting and cacao. On the palate, it’s somewhat juicy with subtle sweet and spicy grains, bold oak, and twang of cinnamon on the end. Adding water truly opens this one up in a huge way but do it slowly. Now the cacao is dark chocolate, and the stone fruits are coming up on the nose much more. Still beautiful, sweet, and spicy grains, but much more expressive now with a sense of wilderness – fields of grass on the edge of a damp wood. Hints of hay and geranium follow. On the palate the lack of heat adds sweetness, and the spicy finish is no more. Instead, it’s a bucket of cereals sweetened with honey syrup. It’s not bourbon, it’s not malt – it’s not as powerful or intense as either, but a lovely whisky, nonetheless. Now I’m using every Diageo malt I must try to recreate Johnnie Black with it. So much fun to blend at home.
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Notes
This may be the youngest single grain we've ever bottled, but we did so with good reason. The facility is notable for being the very first in Scotland to install a column still and begin producing single grain whisky for blending way back in the 1840s. It sits just across the Fife of Forth from Ediburgh and remains one of the most important production facilities in the Diageo portfolio. In particular, it's notable that in the 1980s a GNS plant was erected for the production of neutral spirit to be used in such famous brands as Tanqueray, Pimm's and Smirnoff. But it the NOT so neutral side of the plant we're interested in! This whisky is the base for all the Diageo blends from Johnnie Walker to Bell's and White Horse. What's notable about this whisky is that it's one of the very few single grains we've ever seen in first fill would, namely bourbon. The spirit retains it's intensity after 12 years and should always been coexed out with some water, but the exciting experience of good grain in good wood was too much to pass up, especially when we realized the incredible price we'd be able to charge. There's absolutely no reason not to bring this bad boy home at $40 and if not enjoy its delights unblended - it's glorious fun to use this stuff to make mini at home blends to test your blending prowess. Eitherway, it's an stupendously fun whisky to have around, albeit a high octane one that will go over the heads of some unitiated.
Product Details
Origin: Lowland, Scotland
Type/Varietal: Malt
Alcohol Content: 62.9%
SKU: #1789691