Cambus 22 Years Old 1991

Scottish single grain whisky

53.8% ABV, £70.65 for 70cl

Score: 77/100

What they say:

A rare Cambus single grain Scotch whisky, which has been bottled by Signatory for their Cask Strength Collection. It was distilled in July 1991, 2 years before the distillery was closed, and bottled in October 2013. A limited release of 534 bottles.

What I say:

must… resist…

Cambus’s, you wait for ages then two come at once!

[sorry]

After our recent review of our first sherry matured grain whisky from Cambus during the Jolly Jaunt to Annandale distillery: Cambus 21 Years Old 1991 ~ 50.5% (Signatory) a couple of weeks later I find myself with another sherry matured grain whisky from Cambus. Another refill butt from Signatory but bottled this time at 22 years old on 22/11/2013. Interestingky this was also distilled on 24th June 1991 just a matter of weeks before Cambus distillery closed for good, so essentially this [Cask #55888] is a sister cask to the last one we tried [cask # 55886], begging the question wher is #55887 (perhaps a 23yo soon?). This was dram #2 at the Water of Life Society EWB Greatness of grain tasting.

Colour:

Amber rose gold, medium/long tears

Nose:

Vanilla, cream, custard, almonds and marzipan, pear drops (esters), leathery tannins, berry fruits

Taste:

Sweet, smooth and spicy, rye, wheat, corn, golden syrup, oat flapjacks, nutmeg, marzipan, red berry fruits; strawberry, raspberry and a little bramble

Finish:

Medium, drying, tannic, fruity and sweet

Overall:

An interesting contrast to the 21yo Cambus, this has a lot less sherry fruit character and a little more almond nuttiness and vanillin, suggestive perhaps of a slightly less sherry-imbued refill butt in which equal measures of sherry and oak influence have had there say on the final whisky? A little smoother and more drinkable than the 21 year old, but more so than an extra years maturation would suggest.