Cane & Grain is an independent bottler from Glasgow. They seem to focus a lot of bespoke bottlings, but they also have their own range of single casks whiskies (as well as rums). Always cask strength, and only using first fill casks for finishing. Check their website for more background information.
Tullibardine 8 yo 2015 (57,8%, Cane & Grain ‘Private Reserve’ 2023, first fill Oloroso hogshead finish #3381, 235 btl.)
Nose: quite a musty and sulphuric cask. Hints of brown sugar, burnt caramel and nut cake. The Oloroso is gentle, mind you, but it can’t win me over. Some lemons and oranges underneath.
Mouth: sweet, with a vague layer of caramel sweetness. Then black pepper, rubber, mossy notes and the same musty character. Fresh (pecan) nuts again, with hints of coffee beans. A bit of heat too, the Oloroso finish only had a mild impact but the underlying spirit doesn’t appear to be very characterful.
Finish: medium length, sweet and spirity, with peppery notes and caramel.
Meh, not my kind of whisky. An Oloroso cask that’s not as fresh as I’d like, and probably a rather uninspired spirit to start with as well.
Highland Park 10 yo 2013 (56,2%, Cane & Grain ‘Private Reserve’ 2024, refill bourbon + first fill bourbon finish #4287, 248 btl.)
Nose: rather naked. That means there’s room for the fragrant heathery honey, with hints of vanilla, flamed citrus and some dried herbs. Then a little smoke and a paper-like quality. A light savoury touch.
Mouth: same ballpark. There gentle smoke with green banana, honey sweetness and heather. This heathery side moves towards herbs, a hint of salt and a mild bitter edge. Black pepper and hints of ginger, as well as slightly greener oak and a light chalky edge.
Finish: medium, with classic notes. Lemon and salt with lightly herbal ashes.
Much better. The first fill spice is a tad louder than we’d like in Highland Park though, so maybe not an exceptional cask after all. Competition is tough if you’re bottling an Orkney. Score: 85/100