Whisky: Cameronbridge 26 Year, 2022 Special Release

Country/Region: Scotland/Lowland Grain

ABV: 56.2%

Cask: Refill American Oak

Age: 26 Years

Nose: Crème de caramel, toffee pudding, caramelized milk sugars, oatmeal cookies, subtle dried herbs and oak, white pepper, a touch of spirited prickle

Palate: Medium-bodied, viscous, confectioners sugars, milk powder, toffee brittle, macadamia nuts, vanilla extract, white pepper, oak, spirited pickle, a touch of oaky-burnt caramel bitterness at the end.

Finish: Medium-length with milk sugars, caramel, and a touch of pepper or spirit.

Score: 4-5

Mental Image: Caramac Mac Nuts

Narrative & Notes: In the kitchen, prepping for dessert with crème au caramel, toffee puddings with a crunchy toffee cookie, caramelized sweetened condensed milk, and a tray of hot oatmeal cookies. Subtle dried herbs with the occasional hint of lavender arrived with oak, oaky vanilla, white pepper, and a touch of spirited prickle. Medium-bodied with a nice viscosity, the flavor profile transitioned from sweet confections to oak as powdered sugar, milk powder, toffee brittle, vanilla extract, and macadamia nuts slowly shifted to slightly bitter oak and burnt caramel. A touch hot at times, white pepper and a spirited prickle popped in on the mid-palate. The finish was medium-length, with mellow milk sugars, caramel, and a touch of pepper.

This Cameronbridge was about what you expect from a twenty-something-year single-grain whisky, but not quite what you want from a special release. Though this could be a tad hot at times and too heavy on the oak influence for my taste, there were no fatal flaws unless one is sensitive to the spirited quality that sometimes came through, and the overall effect was pleasant. A few drops of water easily balanced out the spirit and touch of bitterness at the end while bringing the creaminess all the way through on the palate.

Overall, not bad. I particularly enjoyed the impression of fresh oatmeal cookies because who does not like fresh cookies?

Image Credit: Drinkhacker