Cragganmore 1986 Whisky Sponge Special Edition 37 yo

 

 

 

52,9°

Distillery : Cragganmore - Speyside

Refill Hogshead, 1st Fill Port Barrique, 2d Fill Barrel Finish

Independent Bottling

By Decadent Drinks

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This 37-year-old Cragganmore is a very special edition, having been matured three times, first for 30 years in a Hogshead Refill, then for 5 years in a 1st Fill Port Barrique, and finally for two years in a 2d Fill Barrel, presumably of Bourbon. All in all, only 72 bottles were produced, and they disappeared as quickly as they arrived.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It smells of old, old varnished wood, parchment, beeswax and semi-salted butter, with torrents of red fruit, raspberry coulis, cherry clafoutis, redcurrant jam, rum baba, nougatine, blueberries, blackberries and blackcurrants. Apple crumble, sprinkled with cinnamon, cannoli with a zest of grapefruit, shortbread biscuits. Vanilla cream. Touches of menthol. It's full-bodied on the palate, we have a cheekful of fruit, cherries, redcurrants, blood oranges in particular, with aniseed and liquorice. Perfectly integrated spices, nutmeg, cloves. The finish is very long, like a slow-moving tidal wave, with the fruit becoming woodier and more jammy, and herbaceous notes of thyme and parsley. A pinch of salt and resin, soft caramel, a very slight acidic tinge, and you sink into the earth.

In Short, 

It's truly magnificent, from start to finish. A shock. The Port is very present, but not overpowering, it's more like an intense Sherry, like Pedro Ximénez, but less sweet and more fruity. And there's a balance with the Bourbon influence, which ensures a nice solidity on the palate, it's perfect. Of course, the price is depressing, but this is a very rare product.

Score : 91

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Raw Soul - I Need You

Cragganmore 12 yo

 

 

 

40° 

Distillery : Cragganmore - Speyside

Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 1987

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

It is not clear when Cragganmore 12yo was launched. It certainly existed in 1988, when it joined Diageo's range of Single Classic Malts. I've also found a source that mentions its existence in 1987, but it's not very solid. So it's possible that it was launched earlier, but it's also possible that it was included in the Single Classic Malts as soon as it was created. In any case, I was surprised to learn that it was very lightly peated, reportedly up to 3 ppm. The precise recipe is of course kept secret, but it is cold-filtered and coloured.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very light nose, more lemon than vanilla. Pulpy white fruit, pastry cream, raisins and plums. Crushed almonds and heather. Woody and leafy notes, laurel, thyme, humus. Quince jam. On the palate, it's honeyed, with pear and green apple juice and a hint of citrus zest. The spices are present, clove and white pepper. Caramel cut with water. The finish is rather successful, long, earthy, ginger, lime, malted barley, poached eggs, hay, toast rubbed with garlic. Chestnuts, hazelnuts. Mint leaf.

In Short, 

The nose could be nice, but at such a low alcohol level and with cold filtration, it has lost quite a lot of its flavour. The same goes for the palate, you get the impression that this is a restrained whisky, with limited potential. This is something we'd love to discover at 46° and unfiltered. Unfortunately, the demands of the market mean that we only have this ersatz to satisfy us, at a price that's not so cheap either.

Score : 83

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Information Society - Repetition

Cragganmore The Distillers Edition 2023

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Cragganmore - Speyside

American Oak Refill Barrels and Ruby Port Seasoned Recharred American Oak Finish  

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Totally Unpeated

Slightly different from its counterparts aged in Sherry casks from other distilleries, the Cragganmore Distillers Edition has been aged in Ruby Port Pipes. As for the rest, the principle remains the same, no age, no more vintage, but cold filtration and colouring still present.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Honey on the nose, with amarena cherries sprinkled with speculoos, nuts and candied red fruits, blueberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, milk chocolate, pastry cream, blood orange, green apples, juicy pears and vanilla. On the palate, it's light but pleasant and mellow, oily, fruit tart, damsons, jam, cinnamon, then wood and spices, cloves, pepper. Quite a long finish, correct for the alcohol level, figs, chocolate and bark, liquorice, herbaceous notes, honeysuckle, parsley.

 

In Short, 

I liked the nose, the palate and the finish are pleasant, but the low alcohol content is a little annoying. A few degrees more would do it a lot of good. All in all, it's not bad, though a bit expensive for what it is. I suggest waiting for a promotion.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Epica - The Ghost in Me