Cragganmore 2006 12 Year Old Special Releases 2019

Tasting Notes

• Billy Abbott, The Whisky Exchange

  • Nose

    Green smoke – burning leaves and damp peat. Leaf mulch and damp-forest notes build, with a background of stewed apple sweet-and-sourness. Fragrant woody spice develops – sandalwood, thick curls of cinnamon bark and Christmas wreath pine. Fresh seaside breezes slowly roll out of the glass, with a background of buttered malt loaf wafted over by soft breezes of mint and menthol.

  • Palate

    Softer smoke than on the nose, with spiced toffee and sponge cake accompanied by a distant leafy bonfire. Hints of tar and dockside rope develop but disappear behind sweet grain and milk chocolate. Candied orange and spice build through the centre, along with smoky flamed peel.

  • Finish

    Spiced chocolate fades to leave char and sweet damp oak.

  • Comment

    A surprisingly smoky from a distillery that I didn’t realise made smoky spirit. I think we’ll see this one disappear quickly – it’s an interesting new take on an old favourite, and rather good with it.

• Caroline Roddis, The Whisky Exchange

  • Nose

    A coating of bacon dust on soft waxy lemons, key lime pie and damp, mossy tree branches. Intensely sweet purple boiled sweets somehow mingle harmoniously with a dry and ashy peat.

  • Palate

    Oily ash coats the mouth, along with bitter lemon and a flash of orange bitters. Bark and moss come in from the forest, bringing with them a shadow of something weightier, almost stuffing-like.

  • Finish

    Sweeter peat and ripe apples, followed by honey and lemon tea and hints of burning heather.

• Tom Ransome-Jones, The Whisky Exchange

  • Nose

    Earth, gentle peat smoke. Loam. Green leaves and sweet lemon.

  • Palate

    Bright, fizzy, sweet lemon which dampens almost immediately to wet, smashed vegetation. Lively, woody spice follows, before softening again to green wood. Earthy yet jovial.

  • Finish

    Dry and savoury; back to soil with a little residual spice.

• Ning Heywood, The Whisky Exchange

  • Nose

    : Very malty initially, hints of vanilla, caramel, citrus and damp grass peek through. A hint of lemon meringue pie and sour peat smoke.

  • Palate

    Sweet caramel burst onto the scene, alongside lemons, malt, meringue and mushrooms. A wave of savoury peat smoke rolls in afterwards, with a hint of buttery toast, vanilla and just a touch of pepper.

  • Finish

    Malty and sweet, notes of smoke, caramel, dried fruit and cinnamon linger. There’s also a hint of buttery malt loaf.