Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Cragganmore 21yo. Special releases 1989-2010. OB. 56%. 70cl.
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Big whiffs of damp straw, steel wool, some damp sawdust, workshops, honeysuckle and even some green and delicately tropical fruit notes underneath everything. Furniture polish (there’s a definite hint of Mr sheen about it) and hints of fresh vanilla as well. After a while it starts to become a little grassy and mentholated, wears its age very deftly. More vanilla and homemade custard, quite creamy now but still very fresh, bananas and pears with some apricot jam in the background. Very typical, a very ‘Diageo’ profile so far in my book. With water it suddenly becomes all aromatic and herbaceous with garden fruits and olive oil, still very attractive.
Palate: Big delivery with a dense bundle of hot, white peppery alcohol. Fizzy sherbert, candy floss, hints of liquorice and turpentine. This could have been one of the Rare Malts series so easily. Needs water methinks… still pretty lively with water, plenty of drying spicy qualities and clean, delicate oaky tones. Something quite leathery and meaty after a while, a bit Mortlachy maybe? This is quite a robust Cragganmore, now there is lots of chewy, sinewy malted barley all over the joint, quite earthy and farmy too. Finally a little herbaceous with some chives and rosemary, interesting.
Finish: Long and malty with a gentle honey/spice kick and some green fruitiness.
Comments: I like this Cragganmore, it’s very much in keeping with the other Special Releases from this distillery. I would say for me it’s better than the 17yo but not quite as good as the 10yo or the old 29yo. Still a flawlessly constructed dram all the same though.
