18 products

Direct Import Single Grains

"I wish I had a twenty pound note for each time I had been told in recent years how much someone enjoys a single grain" says Jim Murray. We have to agree. Younger to middle age bottlings are some of the true bargains of the whisky world. Really old examples are to die for. At 30 or 40 years, these whiskies can deliver a unique experience bordering on the sublime: Complex and shifting bouquets matched by luxurious textures and sumptuous flavours falling somewhere between the finest gold Rums or Bourbons or the very, very best Irish. For almost any wood-aged spirit category (bar Armagnac) the price / age ratios are frequently astonishing. As well as a few off-the-radar bargains, our latest direct imports include the now very rare Cambus 40 year old - one of the highest scoring whiskies in Jim Murray's 2020 Bible.
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    • Nick's Import
    Claxton's Grain Barn 30 Year Old Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    $199. 00
    Bottle
    $2388.00 Dozen
    ABV: 48%

    A polished and simply delicious grain at a bargain price.

    New for 2022, the Bourbon-barrelled 'Grain Barn' is as the name suggests, a single grain matured in former barns at Claxton's Dalswinton Bond. Created to bring the category further into the limelight, it's a shining example of just how assured grain whisky can be. At the time of writing, from the original 1500 bottles there were only about 50 left at Claxtons (word has got out!) It starts with a well-weighted bouquet mingling banofee pie, sticky date, vanilla fudge and cocoa, following on the palate with impressive depth and barely a hint of heat; You get a sultry, slow-motion cascade of Bounty bar, mocha and vanilla wafer biscuit flavours that continues to build texture. By the finish it's buttery and borderline luscious. A polished and simply delicious grain at a bargain price, it comes handsomely presented to boot. And like almost everything else from this bottler, it's nice to see they've released it at a decent ABV. Don't miss out. 48% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Batch 001 tasted.

    • Nick's Import
    • Reduced
    1964 Douglas Laing & Co. XOP Xtra Old Particular Dumbarton 55 Year Old Single Cask Limited Release Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $3,999.00
    $2499. 00
    Bottle
    $29988.00 Dozen
    ABV: 44.6%

    Beyond investment grade - now more a museum piece, and deserving of a place in any serious whisky collection.

    From the long closed Dumbarton plant, this is all the more unusual for its extraordinary age. Grandfather Dumbartons are frequently off the charts when it comes to ratings in the single grain category. This is definitely one of the oldest, if not the oldest ever bottled upping the ante on a 1975 Gordon & Macphail 45 YO released earlier in 2022. Beautifully presented in a heavyweight bottle housed in a wooden box, Douglas Laing are offering 215 bottles to the world, drawn from one refill hogshead at natural strength with no chill filtration. Anticipate aromas and flavours of Scottish honey, maple syrup, candied apples, ginger, nutmeg and milk chocolate with a lengthy poached pear, pistachio and marmalade finish. Extremely limited stocks. 44.6% Alc./Vol.

    Also known as 'Inverleven', Dumbarton was built in 1938, just south of the Highland border near Glasgow and for a while was the largest operation of its kind. Classified as a lowlander by Michael Jackson, production was predominantly set aside for the Ballantine's blends. When bottled by Indies, Dumbarton is typically the label for grain whisky. Inverleven the single malt, but it's not a rule. Nowadays stocks are "undeniably rare". The notable feature of the plant was its American-style stainless steel columns (rather than the traditional Coffey stills). A focus on maize, meant its spirit was rather heavy in character. In 1956 a third Lomond still was added with an attached rectification column designed to produce different styles of spirit. The distillery was decommissioned in 1985, though its column still was salvaged by Bruichladdich to produce its now famous 'Botanist gin'.

    • Nick's Import
    1991 Signatory Vintage Cambus 30 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml) - 55.4%
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    $399. 00
    Bottle
    $4788.00 Dozen
    ABV: 55.4%

    Signatory regularly offer a number of single grains, all worth consideration. Here's another, and one of the rarer selections. Prized by blenders, Cambus was closed in 1993. At a going rate of under $14 dollars per year of maturation, we'd say this is very reasonable buying. Pale coloured, Signatory have matured it in a refill butt before emptying it in 2022 with an outturn of 439 bottles. 55.4% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

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    • Nick's Import
    1996 Berry Bros & Rudd North British 20 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    $199. 00
    Bottle
    $2388.00 Dozen
    ABV: 54.8%
    Another grain whisky demonstrating this category deserves long overdue respect.

    Edinburgh's last remaining distillery, North British supplies famous blends such as J&B, Cutty Sark, The Famous Grouse and Johnnie Walker. They never bottle whisky under their own label. A high percentage of maize (corn) is combined with a smaller proportion of malted barley. This one's all the more unusual for being matured in refill sherry butts, which the bottlers say is particularly evident on the nose where you'll pick up some marmalade notes, dried fruits and nut shells. Distilled in 1996 and bottled in 2017, this gets huge praise from Jim Murray below. Non chill filtered. 54.8% Alc./Vol.

    Other reviews... Let's say you were a blender working on a high grade 21 year old blend and a sample of this came your into your lab as you worked out the next year's batch. You would be thrilled. This gives everything you'd want as it is far from neutral and a few casks of those would bolster your honey profile to sort out any oak from elsewhere which have gone a bit dry and gung ho early on. Exemplary. 94.5 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2020
    • Nick's Import
    • Reduced
    1988 Berry Bros & Rudd Invergordon 28 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $240.00
    $199. 00
    Bottle
    $2388.00 Dozen
    ABV: 57.9%
    Previous Invergordon selections from BBR have been more complex than your usual extra-aged grains. At near three decades old, barrel # 26962 promises aromas and flavours of roasted oak, apple and melon peels with a hint of menthol, some honey and cinnamon, while the Bourbon barrel's influence comes through with notes of buttery vanilla and crème caramel.
    Very limited stocks. Non chill filtered. 57.9% Alc./Vol.
    • 97
    • Nick's Import
    1975 Cambus 40 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Special Release 2016
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    $1299. 00
    Bottle
    $15588.00 Dozen
    ABV: 52.7%
    From a closed distillery, this investment-grade grain was one of the highest rated whiskies in Jim Murray's 2020 Bible. "Flawless." 97 points - Jim Murray

    Cambus has been marketed at various ages, as well as a no-age-statement. Now a grandfather 40-year-old is on offer as part of Diageo’s 2016 Special Releases. It's also the oldest whisky in this year's collection and only the third time a grain whisky has featured since the Special release programme commenced in 2001.

    A roller coaster history that started in the early 19th century finally came to a close in 1993 as part of Diageo’s infrastructure reorganisation. In 2011, the distilling equipment was removed and Cambus was converted to a warehouse and cooperage, consolidating nearby Carsebridge and Dundashill in Glasgow.

    In Scotland, grain whiskies can be produced from almost any type of grain, however, the most common examples employ wheat, corn and a little malted barley. Column stills replace copper pot stills, the former resulting in a light, clean and fruity spirit, mostly used to stretch out blends. Not surprisingly, single grains are maligned by malt snobs yet this underdog category has its place. Matured in refill American oak hogsheads, just 1,812 bottles of this extraordinary dram have been produced. One for collectors, whisky nerds and completionists, it also comes with a glowing review from Serge Valentin below. Stocks are extremely limited.

    Other reviews... One of the old closed grain distilleries, Cambus stopped working in 1993. The bottle is superb, I have to admit. Colour: gold. Nose: medicinal alcohol on croissants and coconut cake, plus a lot of custard and herbal tea. Dog roses, perhaps? Notes of mirabelle pie. A rather elegant grain whisky, I especially enjoy all this white chocolate that comes through after two minutes. With water: toasts and marmalade, in all softness. Mouth (neat): really very good (yes, S. speaking), full of mangos and papayas, plus plums and hay jelly. Hay jelly’s excellent, try that on foie gras! What’s really excellent as well is that it’s not too dominated by vanilla and coconut. Well it’s not dominated at all. Great surprise. With water: a little grenadine, rhubarb, and more rhubarb. Rhubarb pie with a little cinnamon, and drizzles of lime juice. Perhaps wacky guavas too. Finish: medium, clean, limy, soft, with a little lavender (sweets) and violet drops. Comments: seriously, this is an excellent surprise, on second thought there are even nods to high-end tequilas. Now could grain whisky, even when old, be worth £750, I don’t quite know, but what’s sure is that I like this Cambus just as much as last year’s Caledonian.
    89 points - www.whiskyfun.com
    • Nick's Import
    1989 Claxton's Warehouse No.1 North British 32 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    $250. 00
    Bottle
    $3000.00 Dozen
    ABV: 51%

    Opportunity knocks in a three decader grain whisky selling for a song. Matured in a PX Sherry hogshead, it will likely have gained enough weight and mouthfeel to make it taste closer to a malt. We have very limited stocks from a run of 344 bottles at a natural strength of 51% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.

    Notes from the bottlers... NOSE: Ripe banana. Fruit salad. Sweet oak. PALATE: Sweet at first but bursting with ripe fruits (peach, melon). FINISH: Long and sweet with aniseed, ripe pear and hints of cola.

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    • Nick's Import
    • Reduced
    2006 Claxton's Warehouse No.8 Cameronbridge 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $199.00
    $150. 00
    Bottle
    $1800.00 Dozen
    ABV: 48.3%

    Looks, smells and tastes more like a single malt, or perhaps, well-sherried Irish Pot Still. The give-away is the advanced colour, the result of a spell in an Oloroso sherry octave. The nose starts off creamy and soft followed by sweet leather, hints of hazelnuts and grilled pineapple. Equally intriguing on the palate: A big, booming, malt-like dram with a zap of spices; Nutty oloroso rallies at the finish followed by fruity dark chocolate, pipe tobacco and new leather. Quite a statement for a humble grain. Just 43 bottles were filled! 48.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

    • Nick's Import
    1976 Douglas Laing & Co. XOP Xtra Old Particular Carsebridge 43 Year Old Single Cask Limited Release Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    $699. 00
    Bottle
    $8388.00 Dozen
    ABV: 50.7%

    It's been noted by at least one whisky writer that your best chances of securing new bottlings of old malts from closed distilleries are Caperdonich, Convalmore, Dallas Dhu, Imperial, Ladyburn, Littlemill and Pittyvaich. As independent releases become more erratic, the remainder have become the realm of whisky auctioneers. Several single grains including Carsebridge surely fall into the latter category. To our knowledge, this is only the third time an example has made it to Australian shores. Given that Diageo's 48 year old Special Release 2018 edition opened at well over AU$1000, this will be a no-brainer for collectors. We have imported a tiny quantity from an outturn of 210 hand-filled bottles from a single refill hogshead. Carsebridge closed in 1983 and was subsequently demolished. Although it was a large operation for its time, remaining stocks are now running low. 50.7% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

    Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Sweetly waxed immediately on the nose with cedar wood, rose water and hard candy. Palate-wise, there is early ginger biscuit and burnt orange followed by treacle toffee and toasted marshmallow – all neatly replicated on the rather 'home-baked' finish.

    • Nick's Import
    1988 Douglas Laing & Co. XOP Xtra Old Particular Cambus 30 Year Old Single Cask Limited Release Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml) - 46%
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    $450. 00
    Bottle
    $5400.00 Dozen
    ABV: 46%

    Another well-priced and well-aged collectible single grain from Douglas Laing's latest outturn is this venerable Cambus. Consistently on collector's radars, these releases routinely sell out. Distilled in September 1988, just five years before the operation closed for good, after 30 long years in a single refill hogshead, 336 hand-filled bottles were released as part of the Xtra Old Particular series in August 2019. Laing's notes read: "A waft of burnt sugar followed by candied orange, boiled sweets and fresh wood shavings. On the palate, sweet biscuits with vanilla essence and creamy fudge. The finish brings a tingly spiciness plus a warm home baking quality." And yes, at 46% this is natural cask strength. Non chill filtered. Very limited stocks.

    • Nick's Import
    1976 Douglas Laing & Co. XOP Xtra Old Particular Caledonian 44 Year Old Single Cask Limited Release Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    $799. 00
    Bottle
    $9588.00 Dozen
    ABV: 52.8%

    Douglas Laing & Co. continue to secure and bottle a good selection of grains these days, some of which must be getting quite rare. There have been a few closed grain distilleries in Scotland: Carsebridge, Cambus, Dumbarton, Garnheath, not to mention the very rare Caledonian, one of the biggest of them all. Founded in Edinburgh 1855 and closed in 1988, 'The Cally' (as the locals called it) made its debut as part of Diageo's Special Releases in 2015. That bottling would now be selling for well over AU$1500.

    To our knowledge, this extraordinary 44 year old is the oldest expression ever offered from this dark horse distillery and one of the oldest single grain whiskies on record. Those in the know will snap it up fast. Distilled in 1976 (likely from majority corn) followed by maturation in a single refill American oak hogshead, Douglas Laing describe it as attractively spiced on the nose, running to molasses, muscovado sugar and cereals and with a similarly robust flavour profile. Bottled with zero filtration at natural strength, 218 hand-filled bottles are available worldwide. Highly collectable. 52.8% Alc./Vol. Very limited stocks.

    • Nick's Import
    Greign 20 Year Old Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    SCOTLAND
    $89. 99
    Bottle
    $1079.88 Dozen
    ABV: 40%
    A remarkable price for a wood matured spirit of this age. Reports have it that this is produced by Macduff (the easternmost distillery in Scotland) and aged in Sherry casks and re-charred Bourbon casks. Stephanie Macleod, one of the few women Master Blenders and daughter of John Dewar is behind its creation. 40% Alc./Vol.
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    • Nick's Import
    1991 James MacArthur's Invergordon 23 Year Old Old Masters Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    $199. 00
    Bottle
    $2388.00 Dozen
    ABV: 57.9%
    Uncut and unadulterated single cask grain.
    Given the massive ABV and the way this handles water, it's like getting two bottles in one.

    Invergordon is one of the big names in grain whisky in Scotland. Established in 1960, these days the plant produces top quality single grain for Whyte & Mackay. Indie bottlers, James MacArthur have sourced this all-natural expression, distilled in December 1991 and bottled in 2014 from a single Bourbon cask.

    Tasting note: Antique gold. Giddy wafts of alcohol require time to back off. Sweeter notes of creamy soda, caramel nib chocolate and vanilla fudge emerge through slightly bitter oak. Silky entry before the booming spices attack. Sweet cereal, peach and vanilla flavours gain momentum, creaming up the mid palate before a bittersweet, pepper-fuelled finish. Uncut, this packs quite a punch, but water brings it into balance, accenting creme brulee on the nose and fluffing up the palate beautifully while extending the length (add extra points to the score here!) It should please any one looking for a good introduction to single grains as well as value-seekers - given the massive ABV and the way this floats, it's like getting two bottles in one. Non chill filtered. 57.9% Alc./Vol.
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    • Nick's Import
    1992 Lady of the Glen North British Single Cask #355 30 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    $199. 00
    Bottle
    $2388.00 Dozen
    ABV: 46.9%

    Featherweight opening aromas need time to blow off acetone, revealing a prototypical grain that delivers the best of young and old; Vanilla biscuits, apple pie, creamy soda, hazelnut and distant milk chocolate notes come wrapped up in a silky texture reminiscent of drier-styled Guatemalan rum. It gets more buttery and textural with every pass. Thirty years in oak but refusing to admit its age, vibrancy is one of its most praiseworthy characteristics. The slightly heavier mouthfeel compared with other grains is due to the use of maize rather than wheat. 46.9% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. 147 bottles. Fully matured in an ex-bourbon barrel.

    Notes from the bottlers... custard cream, liquorice and buttered pancakes.

    • Nick's Import
    1988 Lady of the Glen Invergordon Single Cask #1480 34 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    $299. 00
    Bottle
    $3588.00 Dozen
    ABV: 48.9%

    Whisky Magazine's Independent Bottler of the Year for 2022

    Invergordon is one of the big names in grain whisky in Scotland. Established in 1960, these days the plant produces top quality single grain for Whyte & Mackay. This version comes with a considerable age statement. In total, 183 bottles were released from a Bourbon cask at 48.9% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

    Notes from the bottlers... The tasting revealed, coconut oil, ripe pineapple and rice pudding.

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    • Nick's Import
    • Reduced
    1988 Lady of the Glen Cambus Single Cask #59269 32 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    Reduced from $299.00
    $249. 99
    Bottle
    $2999.88 Dozen
    ABV: 44.6%

    Once prized by blenders, Cambus was closed in 1993. Perfect gold in colour. The nose is on the drier side. Five minutes in the glass accentuates sweeter notes being lightly peppered with suggestions of sponge cake, fruit pastries, jelly beans, Bounty Bar and dried peach. Brisk, light entry; Somewhat bourbonesque. The mid palate amplifies the texture, becoming almost malty; follows with a rush of desiccated coconut, sponge cake and vanillan oak. Hints of dry curacao and peppermint confectionary revive the finish. If you tend to find grains overly sweet, this one should work in your favour. 296 bottles drawn from a single hogshead. 44.60% Non chill filtered.

    Other reviews... Nose: A complex mixture of creamy vanilla, chocolate powder, red fruits and paraffin wax develop to a marmalade on toast and freshly baked pastry character. All of this contained within a fruit orchard. Palate: Smooth and subtle entry with more body and mouthfeel than expected with grain whisky. Juicy raisins and sultanas in vanilla ice cream balanced with notes of honied spice and desiccated coconut. Finish: Fairly short but very moreish and refreshing. Now more spice led with hints of cinnamon & nutmeg dusted custard, dried banana and peppered oatcakes.

    • Nick's Import
    1991 Signatory Vintage North British 30 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Lowlands, SCOTLAND
    $299. 00
    Bottle
    $3588.00 Dozen
    ABV: 51.8%

    Older North British grains routinely sell out. Priced at less than $100 / decade of maturation, don't expect this to last long! The distillery continues to supply grain whisky for use in blends such as Cutty Sark, Famous Grouse, Chivas Regal, J&B, Isle of Skye and Johnnie Walker. They never bottle whisky under their own label, so very few would have had the opportunity to taste it on its own. This example from Signatory Vintage was part of an outturn of 442 bottles. The norm here is x bourbon casks, however this one was filled into a refill Sherry Butt which, in our experience, makes grains taste a little more 'malty'. 51.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

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    1974 The Cally 40 Year Old (Special Release 2015) Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)
    Edinburgh, SCOTLAND
    $1399. 00
    Bottle
    $16788.00 Dozen
    ABV: 53.3%
    40 year old whisky. Closed distillery. An incredible opportunity to purchase one of the oldest and most expensive Grain Whiskies ever released.


    The Cally (as the locals called it) makes its debut as part of Diageo's Special Releases in 2015. This extraordinary 40 year old is also one of the oldest expressions ever offered from this dark horse distillery, otherwise known as "The Caledonian", based in Edinburgh and closed in 1988. Not surprisingly, bottlings of any kind are rare. This edition was distilled in 1974 (likely from majority corn) followed by maturation in refill American oak hogsheads. Bottled at natural strength, just over 5000 bottles are available worldwide.

    Tasting note: Bright brassy gold. Impressive lift with dense, sweet opening aromas reminiscent of rock lolly / dark chocolate / toffee apple. Aeration broadens the bouquet suggesting strawberry sponge cake / icing sugar. Five minutes shifts the emphasis to vanilla, honeycomb / crunchie bar. Gorgeous purity. Big vanilla / cinnamon / sponge cake delivery framed by vibrant spices; mildly oily to finish with salivating malt and cascading sugars. Luxurious grain. So much age yet never falls short on balance or freshness. 53.3% Alc./Vol.

    Other reviews... If your glass is half empty, you might overlook this because it is the most expensive single grain Scotch whisky released to date. If your glass is half full, you will relish sweet toffee popcorn, coconut, fresh fruits, linseed oil, and some spicy and nutty notes. Makes sense, as South African white maize was heavily used in the production in the early 1970s. It’s mouth filling, dark and brooding, with plenty of chocolate, oak tannins, char, and layered spice. Sumptuous. 90 points- www.maltadvocate.com, Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2016)

    Lovely half-pre-Castro-Cuban, half-Alfred-Barnard-era label. The whisky industry will soon call a guy named Gutenberg at the current rate ;-). Nah, Da Vinci’s too expensive. More seriously, we haven’t tried many Caledonians so far, let’s simply remember that the Haymarket distillery (Edinburgh) was closed in 1987. So, as far as grains are concerned, this is a historical bottling. Colour: gold. Nose: ha, now we’re talking! And we’re talking… Irish. Seriously, you’d think this is pure pot still whiskey, with overripe apples, butterscotch, and this very peculiar metallic side that just works in this context. And of course there’s plenty of vanilla and coconut. Fresh and vibrant, certainly not ’40 years’. I quite like this so far. With water: I like it even more. Some kind of softer bourbon, perhaps. No rye, though. Mouth (neat): very good, I think. It’s not malt whisky, obviously, but it’s got depth and structure, and all this tropical stuff (Irish indeed) just works. Mango chutney covered with buttered caramel and coconut liqueur, plus mandarin liqueur and perhaps Turkish delights. Goody good, and the oak never comes in the way. Meringue. With water: really very good. No oaky ventures, only stewed fruits and various pastries, including oriental ones. Finish: quite short, as expected, but clean, fruity, and praline-like. Comments: I haven’t checked the price, but if it’s fair(ish), it’s a good bottle to own to show your friends that grain whisky’s not always only oak-flavoured ethanol. I really like it very, very mucho. 89 points. - www.whiskyfun.com