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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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August 11, 2023 |
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WF's Summer Duets
Today Cragganmore official vs. independent |
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| Cragganmore Distillery (Diageo) |
Cragganmore is becoming scarce. It's actually amusing to learn, as Angus mentioned the other day, that certain 'Secret Speysides' from the past, which everyone believed to be Glenfarclas, were actually Cragganmore. Because while the mere mention of the town of Ballindalloch used to put us on the right track (but of course), it's worth remembering that Cragganmore too is located in Ballindalloch. Furthermore, after twenty years and a bit of eau-de-vie, some tongues tend to loosen, and old secrets come to light… Now the indie we'll have today is not 'secret'… |
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Cragganmore 15 yo '150th Anniversary' (48.5%, OB, Distillery Exclusive, 2019) 
We've never tried this 15 years old, we've only ever tried 2010's 14 years for the Friends Of The Classic Malts. Does that wonderful consumer club still exist, by the way? I believe that many people were educated about single malt whisky thanks to them and their printed newsletters were even more extraordinary than those of Ardbeg. The advent of the all-digital era has destroyed a lot of brand value, unfortunately, but it's amusing to see DNVBs getting into print again… Anyway… Colour: straw. Nose: it's a zesty, rather bourbon-cask-driven nose, fresh; modern, rather on mirabelles and IPA, citrusy hops, granny smith, then lemongrass, verbena and spearmint from the wood. Only positive comments to make this far. Mouth: good punch, more oak spices (the usual pepper, cinnamon and ginger), always apples and plums, always those flavourful herbs, then grapefruit skin and custard, while oranges would then gain more and more importance in the combo. Finish: rather long, leafy, always with these oak spices and citrus peel. Cinnamon mints and lemon drops in the aftertaste. Comments: a very good, powerful Cragganmore that feels stronger than 48.5%.
SGP:561 - 86 points. |
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Cragganmore 26 yo 1995/2022 (54.7%, Hunter Laing, The First Editions, sherry butt, cask #HL 19119, 300 bottles) 
We had tried sister cask #19521 bottled at the same strength last year, and thought it was pretty perfect (WF 88). It's always quite exciting to taste the admirable Cragganmores and the young Taliskers that the two branches of the very honourable Laing family manage to offer us from time to time! Colour: deep gold. Nose: we're closer to the classic, more sherry-driven Cragganmores, including the older official twelves. There's a waxiness that's quite close to some 'nice' soap (natural!), some green walnuts, some cigarette tobacco (we keep mentioning old-style Camels), brown ale, amontillado, muscovado, bits of old leather… With water: pure beeswax and overripe apples. Simple but perfect combo. Mouth (neat): bags of oranges and some chocolate. Jaffa cake, orangettes… That's very Cragganmore in my book, indeed. Then greener berries, greengages, gooseberries, more chocolate, some coffee… With water: and voilà, oranges and various black teas, plus the usual walnuts. Finish: long, punchy, just a tad green and spicy in the end, coming closer to the OB in that respect. Comments: we'd like more Cragganmore and more Bowmore (well, that's clever, S.)
SGP:561 - 88 points. |
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