Cameronbridge 34 Year Old 1987 Cadenheads

Cameronbridge was founded in 1824 by John Haig, the whisky baron behind the blend of the same name. His cousin, Robert Stein, was the inventor of the column still. It thus comes as no surprise that Cameronbridge was the first distillery where this type of still was used. What few people know is that the spirit is also used for Smirnoff vodka, Tanqueray gin and Gordon's gin. But we will try a single cask of grain bottled by Cadenhead's after 34 years on a bourbon barrel.

The nose is candy like sweet on aspartame and fruity heart candy. A hint of baking butter, vanilla and banana. Lime in the background. Not bad but not earthshattering either.

Oily and soft on the palate. Surprisingly soft for this ABV, I must say. It also seems much younger than its 34 years. Vanilla, mandarin, candy, wood and some gum. It becomes quite piquant on white pepper and some cloves.

The finish is rather short on banana and lime and lots of vanilla sugar. Honey sweet but satisfying. My 7th grain of this mastodont of a grain distillery.