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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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May 24, 2019 |
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Sweet little duos
Today two old Cragganmore |
Two older, probably almost unobtainable bottlings, just for fun. It’s not that there would be many new ones anyway… |
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Cragganmore 12 yo (45.7%, OB, for D.&J. MacCallum Edinburgh, +/-1980) 
Not a bottle we’re seeing very often, but it does appear at auctions from time to time. Not even sure it’s a proper OB, but there. Colour: gold. Nose: well, this has nothing to do with the current makes, it is much greasier, slightly metallic, much more ‘old Highlands’, and rather less sherried. Wonderful notes of crushed chalk, a lot of hay, and a slightly bouillony development, although there would also be more oranges and tangerines. Truly wonderful, pretty much in line with the very first Classic Malts. A wee spoon of strawberry jam as well. Wonderful indeed. Mouth: a wee tad more unlikely at first, with strawberries again and touches of cardboard, but all is going well after just one minute, with some grist, ale, chalk, a touch of candlewax, those oranges, and hints of peat smoke that would come with a little brine as well. In short, a Cragganmore that’s a little coastal, I would say. Body and mouth feel are perfect. Finish: rather long, oily, with some bitter oranges and a green spiciness. Some kind of curry. A little iron, salt and some strawberries again in the aftertaste. Comments: mega-good, as they say. There’s rather more character than in modern offerings, definitely one of the bolder Speysiders.
SGP:452 - 89 points. |
Let’s find an indie of similar age… |
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Cragganmore-Glenlivet 10 yo 1989/2000 (60.4%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, bourbon butt, 348 bottles) 
Indeed, it was saying ‘bourbon butt’. Perhaps a butt that’s never been used for sherry? Or did some mad coopers re-cooper some barrels into butts? Or did somebody over there in Campbeltown do too much quality control? I would say the outturn would rather suggest a hogshead, but there, only what’s on the label is ‘official’, so a bourbon butt it is. Colour: gold. Nose: rather aggressive and even a tad acidic and acetic at first nosing, with a blend of lime juice and nail polish remover (just a drop of the latter). Then the same notes of crushed chalk, unripe kiwis, grass, and then quite a lot of plastic. Cadenhead were having rather a lot of brutal young malts at that time, this is a perfect example. Remember the lethal St. Magdalenes? With water: turnips and bread, sorrel, mashed vegetables, Jerusalem artichokes, porridge… You see. Mouth (neat): very pungent, on lemon squash and grass juice, plus some kind of varnish again. Some kind of family-made aguardiente. With water: more lemony charms, and more clay and chalk. A tad rounder, a notch more civilized. Barley syrup. Finish: long, sharp, curiously vertical for a Speysider. Comments: nothing to do with any official Craggamnores, but it’s good to be able to try a very raw one. Actually better than it sounded, I would say.
SGP:361 - 85 points. |
Happy we did this wee session. |
(Muchas gracias, Hideo and Tom) |
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