Speyside – 40%ABV – 750ml bottle – $58-80 (seriously, where are all of these spreads coming from??) | £35 | €40
Not sure if you’ve seen it yet but Jason of WHISKYhost just posted a stellar review of the Cragganmore 10yr Cask strength. If you have not, check it out now, then come back for my review of Cragganmore’s 1992 Distiller’s Edition.
The standard 12yr Crag’ is such a cracker of a dram. The price is right (about $40USD) and I’d say it’s just an all-around-great-everyday-dram. I read a review somewhere whereas the Crag’ 12yr was referred to as “the little dram that could”. While I can appreciate the loving note on the Crag’ 12, “little” is not really be applicable to Cragganmore…
Wait a sec, I’m reviewing the 1992 Distiller’s Edition, right? Ok, enough of my blathering on about the 12yr. Here we go on the dram-at-hand:
After having the Balvenie 21yr Portwood, then the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, I was excited to find out that Cragganmore also had a Port finished whisky: 1992 Cragganmore Distiller’s Edition (picture shown is their 1993 edition which I have not yet tried).
Initial whiff — Some brine & spirit (more spirit than I expected for the ABV), peppery oak and perhaps some minted honey & orange rind. All this was drawing me in, big time.
On the mouth — Nothing, at first, like the nose. Initial reaction: Butter, the feel is like melted butter with a warming toffee flavor. Then, it gets a little spicey and tingley (think ginger on a good sushi roll). There more wood influence then port but wow, a nice experience so far.
Finish — Lasting, oaky, spiced orange (the taste of the smell of oranges that have cloves stuck in them, if’n you know what I mean).
In sum — I was expecting a little smoke here, as with the standard Cragganmore (just a little smoke) but I think something overtook it, perhaps the port… As interesting as this one is (and as much as I like port finished whiskies), I have to say that I prefer the standard Cragganmore 12yr expression over this. I can’t wait to try their 10yr Cask Strength
