Cask & Thistle combined box Ben Nevis 22 year old and Cambus 27 year old

An exceptionally rare, twin-set presentation of aged single malt and single grain whiskies bottled at cask strength for the Taiwanese collector market.

At-a-Glance (Combined Set)

Historical Context

This Cask & Thistle set represents a high-point of independent bottling strategy for the exclusive Taiwanese market, where demand for aged, cask-strength whiskies is exceptionally high. Cask & Thistle, the bottler, specializes in selecting rare single casks. The "Drunken Demon Jiu Gui 2nd Edition" designation marks this as part of a highly curated, small-batch series.

The set's core appeal lies in the historical significance of its components:

1. Cambus 27 Year Old (1991): Cambus was a prominent Lowland grain distillery that ceased production and was closed by Diageo in 1993. The limited nature of surviving mature stock from this closed distillery immediately elevates its rarity and value. The spirit is known for its light, grainy character, which beautifully showcases extended oak maturation.
2. Ben Nevis 22 Year Old (1996): Ben Nevis, a Highland distillery, is prized for its notoriously heavy, complex single malt character. The 1996 vintage is particularly well-regarded, with the spirit benefiting from full maturation in a single Sherry Cask. The fact that Ben Nevis is also bottled by independent companies for its highly individual style highlights its collector appeal.

The pairing of an aged, sweet, single malt from Ben Nevis with an even older, delicate single grain from the closed Cambus distillery provides a didactic yet luxurious tasting experience, showcasing the transformative power of extended maturation across two different whisky categories.

Technical Specification & Variant Map

This set is defined by its extreme scarcity and technical integrity. Both bottles are bottled at Cask Strength (undiluted) and carry the single cask details printed clearly on the label. The high ages—22 and 27 years—are unusually long for single cask releases and are mandatory for the premium Asian market. The Cambus liquid matured in a Hogshead (American Oak), a cask choice that is typically responsible for vanilla, toffee, and light oak notes in grain whisky. The Ben Nevis matured in a Sherry Cask, guaranteeing the desired dark fruit and spice notes. The outturn of only 300 bottles of each component ensures maximum scarcity.

Documented variants

This set is the 2nd Edition of the Drunken Demon Jiu Gui series and is specific to the components and outturn listed. Other editions within the broader Cask & Thistle portfolio would feature different distilleries and ages.

Variant Matrix

Packaging & authenticity checklist

The presentation is a high-value collector piece. The whiskies are presented in a specially carved wooden presentation case. Authentication requires checking the label details:

• Cask Information: Verify the Cask Numbers (BN #2199; Cambus #79883), bottling year (2019), and outturn (300 bottles).
• Decanter Risks: The most significant risk lies in the high evaporation potential of the Cambus grain. Since it is a very old single grain, buyers must ensure the fill level remains high, as grain whiskies are inherently fragile in long-term storage. The heavy presentation box is a critical component of the item's valuation.

Regulatory/terminology notes

The set adheres to the strictest Independent Bottler (IB) standards: the whiskies are Single Cask and bottled at Cask Strength. The Ben Nevis is classified as a Highland Single Malt, while the Cambus is a Lowland Single Grain. The designation of Cambus as a closed distillery further enhances the item's archival and resale value.

Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)

The set’s profile delivers an intentional sensory contrast between two very different aged spirits.

Ben Nevis 22 Year Old (Sherry Cask) - 50.0% ABV:

• Nose: Immediate sherry opulence, featuring raisins, fig rolls, dark cherries, and demerara sugar sponge cake. Rich and intensely fruity.
• Palate: Oily and mouth-coating. Delivers blackcurrants, dark chocolate, ginger, cinnamon, and a rich, fruity sponge cake. Full-bodied and robust.
• Finish: Medium to long, offering chocolate, cinnamon spicing, and mentholated oak.
• With water: Not explicitly documented, but the 50% ABV is designed to be highly concentrated.

Cambus 27 Year Old (Hogshead) - 51.7% ABV:

• Nose (Inferred/Proxy): Light, floral notes, potentially rosewater, with creamy butterscotch, vanilla-y oak, and baked goods.
• Palate (Inferred/Proxy): Muscovado sugar, vanilla ice cream, soft melting toffee, green apple, and baking spice. Texturally oily, though sometimes showing metallic elements.
• Finish (Inferred/Proxy): Long, with milk chocolate cookies and gentle wood spice.
• With water: Water may enhance the floral and toffee notes.

Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)

Original RRP (GBP): Not stated by the producer.

Current UK retail range (GBP, incl. VAT): £1,199.00 (Specialist Retailer for the set). This item is rarely available outside niche secondary markets.

Recent UK/EU auction range (GBP, hammer): £720.00 (Set hammer price).

Pricing stratification: The dramatic difference between the achievable auction price (£720) and the specialist retail price (c. £1,200) reflects the substantial premium placed on a guaranteed, authentic, Taiwan-exclusive collector set, complete with its unique wooden case. The value is driven by the rarity of the closed distillery component (Cambus) combined with the highly desirable Ben Nevis vintage.

Price Snapshot

Distillery/Bottler Snapshot

Cask & Thistle is an independent bottler targeting exclusive, high-end markets, known for bottling single malts and single grains at high strength with impeccable cask provenance. Ben Nevis is a traditional Highland distillery whose spirit is noted for its powerful, savoury, and full-bodied malt, often matured in active sherry wood. Cambus was a key Lowland grain distillery until its closure in 1993, making its old stock precious for collectors and blenders alike.

Sourcing

[target formats/eras] The exclusive target is the complete, two-bottle Cask & Thistle Drunken Demon Jiu Gui 2nd Edition set, presented in the original wooden box, verifying the Ben Nevis (1996/Sherry) and Cambus (1991/Hogshead) components.

[red flags to avoid] Avoid sets missing the presentation case or those where the liquid level in the opaque Cambus grain bottle cannot be verified as full/near-full, indicating potential cork failure. The Taiwan exclusive designation must be validated.

[condition thresholds] Mint condition is critical to achieve the specialist retail price. The high value is tied to the artifact status of the packaging and the integrity of the cork seals on both components.

[margin/velocity expectations] Velocity is extremely low due to scarcity. Margins are high, relying on the acquisition discount between the auction floor price (c. £720) and the verifiable retail price (c. £1,200).