Whisky : Cambus 30 Year SMWS G8.11 “Sweet Remedy”

Country/Region : Scotland/Lowland (Single Grain)

ABV : 61.2%

Cask : Refill Ex-bourbon Hogshead

Age : 30 Years (Distilled 12 June 1989)

Nose :  Spicy and rich.  Heaps of cinnamon, vanilla, and custard.  Creamy and sweet like Bananas Foster, banana custard, vanilla bean pudding, or fried plantains rolled in brown sugar and cinnamon.  Hints of toasted nuts, cocoa, and mineral water.

Palate :  Syrupy and full bodied with waves of dark brown sugar, vanilla crème brûlée, and oaky tannins.  Sweet toasted caramel, whipped marshmallow, and mirin— sweet Japanese rice wine seasoning.

Finish :  Medium length with oaky vanilla bean and crème brûlée topping.

Score : 6

Mental Image : Ghost Pepper Vanilla Custard

Notes : A local roving pie shop, the kind that only appears at Farmer’s Markets, makes a ghost pepper infused custard and I imagine this was probably what it tastes like.  

This was an interesting combination of spice and custard with a surprising amount of heat after thirty years in the cask.  I loved the cream that came through on the palate and the creamy-banana quality of the aroma made this a lovely dram to nose.  The spice was at a surprisingly level for an older grain and certainly above my preference level.  The amount of oaky tannins that came through were also a bit much, even if they did lend this dram a nice structure.  

Overall, this was a fine bottle with a lot to love even if it was not exactly to my taste.  The spice really gave it some extra complexity that does not always come through in an old single grain scotch.