The Girvan Distillery is a massive grain plant operated by William Grant & Sons in the Scottish Lowlands. It is also home to the Ailsa Bay Distillery since 2007, a malt operation that opened on the same campus (where Ladyburn operated from 1965-1975). While William Grant & Sons do not sell casks of single malt to independent bottlers, they prefer to teaspoon everything with casks sold under various trade names, when it comes to grain they seem to have fewer qualms. This wee dram came via a Cadenhead’s Enigma tasting pack that I picked up in Campbeltown.

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Whisky: Girvan 33 Year (1991), Cadenhead’s Original Collection

Country/Region: Scotland/Lowland Grain

ABV: 46%

Cask: Barrel

Age: 33 Years (Distilled 1991, Bottled Sept. 2024)

Notes: Woody and citrusy like a spritz of Pledge on a fried cream-filled donut or corn fritter. Wood and wood glue reminded me of theater set construction and stage building with straw, sawdust, plywood, slightly stale coffee, and a can of corn. Dry butter cookies and a bit of sugary frosting lingered in the background. Light-bodied on the palate, the first impression was very sweet and sugary followed by a left turn toward something bitter about halfway through each sip. Arriving first were honey glazed donuts with a twist of lemon that were almost crepe-like with a bit of melted butter, while milled wood and stage sets followed. Slightly bitter and almost sour, like rancid oil or chewing on burdock, this is how I imagined the old syphilis cure of guaiacum powder, boiled, strained, and drank, might taste— bitter and astringent. The finish was medium to short with a bit of pleasant sugars and butter, but more wood and burdock.

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Score: 3 (65)

Mental Image: Don’t Eat the Prop Donuts

Conclusion: There were some classic grain whisky notes here… but then something went wrong. The lovely pastries, cream, and vanilla I expected were supplanted by something bitter and woody.  It very quickly felt as though this had spent far too long in the cask. I do not have much nice to say about this whisky, so I will just leave it at that.