Cambus 25 Year Old 1991 Liquid Treasures

Cambus is no more. It was founded in 1813 and at one point was the largest in Scotland, but it has been closed for good since 1993. Today there is only a – fully automated – cooperage. Let me try a distillate from 1991 that matured for a quarter of a century on a sherry cask, something you do not come across that often. The German company Liquid Treasured bottled it at cask strength.

If you have put this under my nose without telling me what it was, I would not have thought of whisky. This is more like old school cognac or sherry. Musty and very sweet, aromatic, rich and round on cigar leaves, toasted oak, walnuts, Liège waffles, blueberries, speculoos and wet sand. And it is simply flabbergastingly good. Grand nose that smells old (doh, it is!).

Wonderfully creamy, dark and sweet although it quickly turns somewhat dry. Again notes that remind me of oloroso sherry instead of whisky, but when it’s this good, I’m not complaining. Sirop de Liège, Colombian coffee beans, corn on the barbecue, sugared popcorn, roasted nuts… delicious, but not whisky. Oh, but it is.

Very long, mildly piquant, dark and sweet but drying finish.

This is a very pleasant liquid desert. I do not recognize any of the typical Cambus profile though, but so what? Around 150 EUR, which is a bargain. Get it while you can!