Stirk Brothers Cameronbridge from Claxton's

Stirk Brothers are a new independent bottler but they do have some history...

Their first releases are a set of three exclusive Claxton's drams, I had to buy the bottle of Cameronbridge!

David Stirk created the Creative Whisky Company in 2005, it was one of the first indie bottlers I came across on my whisky journey. David had worked as a global sales and marketing manager for independent bottler Wm Cadenhead and written extensively about whisky in magazines and books before deciding it was time to bottle whiskies himself. His first releases were in 2011 from a warehouse in Stevenston, North Ayrshire, in 2013 he moved Thornhill in Dumfries & Galloway.

A number of bottling series were releases with some lovely labels including a range with codes rather than distillery names: AB, AM, DS, GA, GO, GR, MS, LL and PD etc - some fairly easy to guess, some less so! I still have some bottles at the back of my cupboard somewhere!

He sold the business in 2018.

David had now joined forces with his brother to form Stirk Brothers

"seeking out the very best whiskies and spirits. Occasionally we are privileged to put our own stamp of approval on single casks and small batch blends that we bottle under the Stirk Brothers name."

 

Their first releases are a set of three exclusive Claxton's drams from Ardmore, Benrinnes and Cameronbridge.

I bought the Cameronbridge!

Bottler notes:

This bottling missed its 17th birthday by just 14 days but what’s in a number…

Taken from a re-fill bourbon Hogshead and finished for 12 months in a 1st fill ex-Brandy Octave and bottled at 58.5%.

I picked this cask for several reasons. I’m a huge fan of grain whisky (you might recall my Single Cask Exclusive Grain series) and whilst they get very good with great age there are the odd casks that can be bottled younger.

I’m also not a fan of Haig Club which has probably not done a great deal for championing the category…

But the main reason I selected this cask was the full-on buttery/creamy nose with brandy snaps at the fore. There is a spiciness mixed with vanilla and custard creams (or pastel de nata). Despite the alcohol there is not much nose prickle - it is only really apparent on the palate.

Let's see what it's like....

 

Appearance: Mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line of beads which take an age to fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: musty second hand bookshop, rum and raisin ice cream, buttered popcorn - it all seems old grain to start with. A little time and air reveals some complexity: dark fruit, toffee, vanilla, liquorice and some cinnamon spice.

Palate: thick chewy arrival, loads of toffee, liquorice and peppery spice. A little honey sweetness and dark fruit: there's blackberries, blueberries and some plums. A little sour citrus, grapefruit or lime, gives a shout on the tongue before it goes dry and spicy - icing sugar, cinnamon and pepper. The dryness gets you to take another sip and reveals a buttery note - the popcorn from the nose alongside some tropical fruit hints and a little toasted coconut.

Finish: Lingering dry spice, rum and raisin ice cream and a little berry fruit.

Overall: A really well balanced dram, the grain shone through on the nose but the brandy octave has taken over on the palate. The ABV is fairly high at 58.5% but at no time did I even think of adding any water. There are some similarities with older sherry finished grains, this might not be a Christmas Cake dram - but it's perfect for cold winter night's in front of a fire!

Stirk Brothers' shop in Thornhill in Dumfries & Galloway.