Cambus 1991/2021 Coopers Choice 30 years old Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky 70 cl 49.5%

Thirty years in the same bourbon cask, no finish, no detours. It is the most honest way to show what time alone does to grain whisky — and why old Cambus casks have become hunted.

Expert description

Cambus 1991/2021 Coopers Choice 30 Years is a Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky from Bourbon Cask #29218, bottled at 49.5% without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky was distilled in May 1991 and bottled in 2021 after thirty years in the same cask. The cask gave 300 bottles. The Coopers Choice is the series from The Vintage Malt Whisky Company, which buys and selects single casks from across Scotland.

Cambus stood in Clackmannanshire and was one of the classic Lowland grain distilleries. It closed in 1993, and the buildings today serve only for cask repair. With no wine or sherry finish, this bottling is a clean reading of what time and American oak can do.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla, coconut and white chocolate with ripe pear and a lightly toasted almond note.

Palate

Silky with vanilla custard, caramel and pale grain. The oak is present but never dry or sharp.

Finish

Long and creamy with fudge, coconut and a fine, warm dryness.

Specifications

Name: Cambus 1991/2021 Coopers Choice 30 Years Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky 70 cl 49.5%
Distillery: Cambus
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Age: 30 years
ABV: 49,5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask #29218
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: May 1991
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 300
EAN no.: 5024720861623

Flavour profile

Creamy · Vanilla · Coconut · Soft · Elegant

Investment potential

High. Thirty years in one cask from a distillery closed for more than three decades, in a run of 300 bottles.

Did you know?

The large grain distilleries ran column stills around the clock. Cambus could produce far more spirit than a malt distillery, but the whisky was rarely bottled under its own name.

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Frequently asked questions about Cambus 1991/2021 Coopers Choice 30 Years Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky 70 cl 49.5%

What characterises a purely bourbon matured grain whisky?

Vanilla, coconut, caramel and a soft, creamy texture. Without sherry or wine casks, the spirit's own sweetness and the American oak stand entirely alone.

Why does grain whisky turn so soft over time?

Because it is distilled to a higher strength than malt whisky and therefore carries fewer heavy aromatic compounds to begin with. Over time it develops instead a velvet texture and a sweetness from the cask.

Is it worth the money?

Thirty years, one cask, 300 bottles and a distillery that no longer exists. There is no way to make more of this whisky.

How should it be served?

Neat in a glass with a gathered rim, at room temperature. Give it five to ten minutes in the glass and the coconut and vanilla notes come through more clearly.

What is the difference between Lowland grain and malt from the same region?

Grain is typically made from wheat or maize in a column still and is lighter and cleaner, while Lowland malt is made from malted barley and is floral and grassy. See the whole range under Scotch Whisky.

How many bottles does a bourbon cask give after thirty years?

Fewer than you might think. Evaporation typically takes two percent a year, so a 200 litre cask can be down to around 100 litres after three decades.