elipszis scored this whisky 88 points 
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peaty
sweet and fresh
vanilla
sherry
malted barley
lemon -
peaty
peppery
lemon
oily -
lemon
dry
woody
smoky
medium length
Cragganmore 12-year-old
- Whiskybase ID
- WB140081
- Category
- Single Malt
- Distillery
- Bottler
- Distillery Bottling
- Bottling serie
- Diageo Special Releases 2019
- Bottled
- 2019
- Stated Age
- 12 years old
- Casktype
- Refill American Oak
- Number of bottles
- 18000
- Strength
- 58.4 % Vol.
- Size
- 700 ml
- Bottle code
- L9186CM003
- Barcode
- 5000281059136
- Added on
- 06 oct 2019 9:50 am by maltaholic
Average value
€ 116.12
Found 36 online shops. Lowest price:
€ 89.16
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Kaufmann Wine & Drinks | CHF 114.00 | |
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Soul of Whisky - Norbert Ohneck | € 119.90 | |
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No 7 | € 119.95 | |
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Whisky&Co | € 120.00 | |
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Whisky reviews for Cragganmore 12-year-old
98 users have left 102 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 86.72 points.
elipszis scored this whisky 88 points
Drum scored this whisky 86 points
I tasted the Cragganmore blind. I liked it a lot, this sweet fruity-floral note with the smoke was a nice combination.-
A light smoky note comes towards me from the snifter, but sweet, fresh and fruity. I have slightly grassy notes; Apples and floral aromas that remind me of large, wilted flowers. I'll have vanilla sugar later.
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A strong start, I didn't expect that! But sweet and peppery at the same time with fruit ahoy fizz! The smoky note comes back oily and at the same time brings tart grapefruit and wilted flowers, which are also reminiscent of flower soap.
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Warm and very oily! Subtle smoke and flowery soap with grapefruit and some chicory, ash and somehow "dirty"
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hzs275 scored this whisky 87 points
bankimate scored this whisky 86 points
larswehmeier scored this whisky 86 points
Exciting dram. The combination of fine smoke and classic ex-bourbon Speyside aromas works well for me. Great alcohol strength. Pleasantly dry.-
Fine, elegant smoke. Behind it light, floral and becoming more and more fruity over time. Especially apricot present for me.
After the first sip, the sweet flavors come more to the fore. vanilla and caramel. Croissant with sweet honey. -
Powerful start. The cask strength suits him very well. The smoke also remains mild and delicate on the tongue. Some white pepper tingles on the tongue. Vanilla on the palate.
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Pleasantly dry and warming at the same time. Light fur stays on the tongue.
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rich_93 scored this whisky 88 points
Unique and complex. This one took a while for me to get my head around, especially as it’s very particular about dilution. Well worth the price of admission.-
Cereal, honeyed, floral. It’s got some punch to it at cask strength, but be careful - in my experience this one only takes a few drops of water. If you manage hit the narrow goldilocks zone of dilution, you’ll be in for a treat though. At times, some dry ashy smoke pops up.
The cereal in complex and savoury, with the smell of buckwheat prominent. Classic speyside orchard fruit and floral honey. A lovely waxiness coats and softens everything. There’s savoury spices mixing with a farmy nuance - just a hint of sunny fields being fertilised. Refreshing, zesty orange and lemon. -
ruly unique and perfumed. A balance of a complex violet / lilac floral note with delicious candied fruits. The little bit of peat does all kinds of wonders for this. The waxes again give an elegance to it. In the development, there’s plenty of spice, without being overpowering.
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Medium-long. The surge of spice from the palate drives the finish. The peat present itself here most and everything takes a herbal tinge. Then everything we’ve already experienced shows up again: the buckwheat, the candied fruit, and hints of mouthwatering florality. Really nice
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WhiskeryTurnip scored this whisky 85 points
Peated Cragganmore? Probably the oddest duck among Diageo’s 2019 Special Releases. I could not resist the chance to see how the fruity-salty Cragganmore malt married with a highland peat. Adorned with a noble Barn Owl I absolutely love the packaging this year, even though bird focus proved divisive among those who preferred less stylized labeling.
Mental Image: Seaside Squirrel Olive Oil Merchant-
Herbal sinus clearing smoke rises from the glass followed by lamp oil and camphor. Over time the smoke becomes more subtle and sweet as caramel and pastries come to the front. Butterscotch, toffee, vanilla buttercream, Oreo cream filling— it’s a lot like a slightly burnt blondie bar.
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Medium-bodied with a lovely oily viscosity. Big bold herbal and citrus notes kick things off. Citrus oil and a bit of petrol come through as the profile settles. Hints of tropical fruits, malty sugars, and a bit of salt. Over time nutty olive oil takes hold.
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Lingering sweet citrus with mild oaky astringency.
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YD84 scored this whisky 90 points
A wonderful amalgamation of tropical fruits, citrus, spices and earthy peat.hlz30 scored this whisky 87 points
Pleasant peatiness alongside with fruitiness. Lovely dram.-
Rather constrained at the beginning. lime juice, pine, wood spices, gear oil. Then there was the earty peat smoke without seaweed or brine, root of plants, With time: honey, hop, milk chocolate, green apple and canned orange pulp.
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Good oily texture and mouth-coating, medium body. The arrival was intensively sweet (fudge) with fresh orange juice (sweet-sour). Ripen pear, zesty oil, candied orange. Sooty peat came last
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The finish was gently decorated with peat and had a medium length. Subtle iodine, burnt wood, and smoke ash. Pleasantly oaky.
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zzqfyl scored this whisky 87 points
LukasJakubDrabek scored this whisky 88 points
She didn't appeal to me that much at the first tasting, but after the second I'm so glad I bought the whole bottle. Smoke is definitely unconventional for Cragganmore, but it's nice that he doesn't play the first violin here, on the contrary, it only pleasantly complements the overall complex impression. The smell is a bit weaker, but the rich taste and the long finish together will make a great impression.
(Evaluated on a sample basis.)-
Quieter and less pronounced. Perfume (men's shower gel), lavender, bergamot, earl gray tea, crème brûlée.
After adding water: wet plaster, marzipan and lemon sorbet. -
Smoke noticeable at the very beginning (especially after the first sip). Very creamy and thick, rather sour with a slight sweetness. Honey, vanilla cream, lemon ice cream, apple, white currant, apple juice and cider. And gradually with increasing intensity pungent ginger.
It thickens even more when water is added. Sour milk. -
Drier. Lemon peel, menthol candies, peppermint gum. Dry, woody smoke. Cigar. Oysters (or fishy taste).
After adding water: yellow grapefruit.
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Beatroute Malt scored this whisky 85 points
Wine cask!? In your face! Strange, as this is X-B cask only. Golder, red hue colour. Peat, fresh, spices, warming finish. Good stuff indeed!KB201 scored this whisky 92 points
This 12 year old single malt is an experiment with relatively heavily peated malt. It traditionally matured in American refill oak barrels. This year's special release bottlings from Diageo are under the motto 'Rare by Nature - naturally rare'. Limited bottling!LukasJakubDrabek scored this whisky 88 points
Ralfy review 908: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUbQXNANjwQ (86/100).
"At this strength the intensity is being delivered without any awkward jaggy edges and it comes along delightfully so on first taste."Baanaanaabob scored this whisky 88 points
Hay, citrus, yellow fruits, mineral, toffee, very niceMonte Gehro scored this whisky 87 points
Brief description:
Nice balanced nose, initially a lot of fresh citrus aromas. With time and air there are oak notes, more fruit (towards orange and apricot), light honey sweetness and a little smoke.
This continues in the mouth, plus malt sweetness, the high alcohol content makes the tongue tingle. Medium-length finish, without tart and bitter notes.
Consistent malt from start to finish. Goes well without adding water.eddi14 scored this whisky 85 points
Thoma scored this whisky 84 points
dram-drinker scored this whisky 89 points
Powerful, spicy, fruity - little water is recommended-
Plenty of green fruits, lemon peel, lime, honeydew, little vanilla, little leafy, malty, dry hay, green apple, oak wood, heather, little iodine - really not bad
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Punchy, spicy, good sweetness, honey, vanilla, pepper, ginger, malty, citrusy, yellow fruits,peach, pear, apple - still not bad
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Long, burning, vanilla, spices, pepper - little water recommended
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Teomarg scored this whisky 88 points
duke_h scored this whisky 94 points
marcusjang scored this whisky 87 points
They say that at the time a drought came to the Isle of Skye, and concerned with the supply of Talisker they sought substitutes. This experimental peated Cragganmore is what came out of that in result. The drought never came (or was not bad enough to affect Talisker's output) and the malt was released among others as SR in 2019. Truly a release that is special, if that's to be believed.
The result is exactly what I wanted from other peated Speysiders. Honeyed with vibrant apple flavours, with peatiness comparable to Talisker. A tiny bit alcoholic, but it's to be expected to a degree. Not overly complex, but it does well with what it can offer. Oh yeah, now this is pod-racing. I'll look forward for more peated Cragganmore in another twelve years of time.-
Sweet cider, soft dry smoke, honey, slight alcohol, orange zest, some stonefruits
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Apple juice, honey, lemon zest, soft smoke, oily texture, some stonefruits, a bit hot, some peppers
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Residual smoke, honey, apple peel, slightly waxy, white peppers, quite long
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Holzwurm scored this whisky 88 points
K C Wong scored this whisky 87 points
Brunobaer1887 scored this whisky 84 points
Overall, unfortunately, a disappointment for me, had promised me more and I am happy to have paid just over 70, -.-
Light smoke like cold ash on a warm spring evening. Young, unripe pear, lychee and a mentos freshness work on the nose
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Unbalanced here, an obtrusive, mouth-unfriendly grain spice. The 58.4% are clear, the barrel won't knock me off my feet
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Smoky cold citrus grove, I have no chocolate or anything like that, just a pale yellow medium-long aftertaste
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Danlow scored this whisky 89 points
A nice whisky if you like wood and smoke! It is quite complex for a 12'er and it has a lot of wood. For me he goes in the direction of Talisker, but can't hide his origins. But maybe I would have blindly sorted it into the Highland region (peated Highland single malt). It's very waxy! Main notes: apple crumble with cinnamon and vanilla, coated with honey and a dry (wood) spice. Also some pear, grape (green but sweet) and chamomile. The finish is long with wood, fruit and floral notes. A classy whisky!
It is gently carried by - for me - light to medium smoke, but I'm also used to a lot of Islay whisky.
I drink the whisky with a little water, probably just over 50%. From my point of view, it needs some water, so it opens up noticeably.
The bottle has only been open for a few days and I'm excited to see how it develops. For around 90 € back then it was perhaps a bit too expensive, but in 2021 it will - admittedly unfortunately - be fairly priced.butt scored this whisky 88 points
Likudi scored this whisky 84 points
gregy3 scored this whisky 90 points
WhiskyRanked scored this whisky 83 points
Thick syrupy floral orchard fruit medley underneath brine with a hint of smoke. The fruit bursts out at the beginning of the palate - thick, peaches, salt & pepper but these take backstage to the heat. A soap note at the end.
Overall - An OK dram. Cragganmore is one of my favorite distilleries, but personally I don't think the peat is an improvement.Teomarg scored this whisky 88 points
Whisky Hamster scored this whisky 88 points
Peat in Cragganmore works surprisingly well. Also the cask selection was very good imho. Way to go!Dris scored this whisky 88 points
giosim scored this whisky 94 points
thebonewolf scored this whisky 83 points
I liked it quite a bit more than the standard expression. I almost think it was a mistake to release this as going to the standard 12 after a sip of this, to my tastes it is outright boring, almost bordering on unpleasant. This drinks easily while still letting you know it’s there. It’s a nice dram to just have a glass of while lounging or spending time with friends.-
Malty and fruity, unmistakably like the standard 12. Little smoke if any, but coming back after nosing the 12 it’s there in a pretty big way. Kind of fun to see how differently things can be perceived under different circumstances.
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Honey, that same Cragganmore malt that was in the nose, heat comes in and builds to wood and smoke.
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Spicy smoke. Medium. After it’s mostly gone it’s a bit nutty.
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Foudos scored this whisky 86 points
stormspt scored this whisky 88 points
Peaty. It's not a pity. Fruity.Vince scored this whisky 87 points
Special release whiskies are truly a quality benchmark. This is one of the best Cragganmore whiskies I have tried. Mixing old school austere and herbal elements with floral and light sherry notes. Sweetish but refreshing and not cloying.ThinLizzy scored this whisky 85 points
Dyno scored this whisky 88 points
quite a surprise, a good one.
very fruity, a bit of smoke/peatIndianerhäuptling scored this whisky 88 points
Mane140486 scored this whisky 87 points
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the alcohol can be felt, but in any case it does not appear to be excessively covering and reveals hints of earthy peat, lime, lemon, freshly cut grass, green apple, cinnamon and custard
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The peat is well present but it is a vegetable peat different from that of Islay, Mull or Orkney, then there are very accentuated mineral notes as well as hints of a spiced cake with a mixture of vanilla, malt, ginger, cinnamon, lemon. the alcohol is there but it does not dominate the aromas and turns into black pepper.
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long, very long, still herbaceous, with evident notes of smoked aromatic herbs, vegetable peat, lime and vanilla. the alcoholic sensation reaches the end but is not intrusive.
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Issie did not rate this whisky
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Directly from the sample bottle I would have said light smoke, hmm more cold smoke, ash, lemon, hay, grass, flower meadow, some pear
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Apple, honey, dried apricot, lemon, mango, smoke, ash
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Mapl scored this whisky 90 points
rolabob scored this whisky 89 points
TsiAI scored this whisky 84 points
Eyes: White wine smells. Nose: White toast, vanilla milk, honey, green grape bunches, mare milk, Master Kong grape juice, blue and white scent of lily of the valley, grass. Full of alcohol, burning sensation in the nose, coolness of mint, smoky and oak almost impossible to find. Light but strong.
Taste Palate: The top notes are lemon juice, honey, vanilla ice cream, wort. The spiciness of white pepper in the middle section, male cloves, and the not-to-be-ignored chili irritated the tongue on a large scale. In the end, I felt a piece of white oak, slightly sweetened, and finished dry. The level is more obvious.
Final rhyme Finish: super long, the sweetness of chewing food, the smoke of bacon for a long time, the salty taste of sea breeze, the fruit wood roast duck box Body: light and smooth, no astringency, almost no bitter bottom
Nose: 84/100
Palate: 84/100
Finish: 82/100
Body: 83/100
Overall: 84/100DrunkDude scored this whisky 86 points
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Slightly peat, salty meat, grass, green apple, strawberry, lime peel oil 87
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Fresh plums are sour, rock salt, and rich spices include fennel and black pepper. The sweetness of pepper honey. Heavy grease. 89
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Herbal aftertaste, black chocolate, a little cinnamon. 88
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Rien scored this whisky 85 points
Tom na Gruagaich scored this whisky 85 points
Surprisingly smoky Cragganmore with Ardmoore qualities. A little hot in the mouth but great well-defined flavors. Nice peated Speyside.-
Light, citrus-fruity nose, light, but clearly perceptible peat smoke. Then again fruit, quince, some oak, vanilla and popcorn. Exciting nose, surprisingly peaty, not light, but rather bright with beautiful facets in the background.
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A lot of strength, sweetish, fruit, citrus, somewhat tart notes, noticeable peat, ash, pepper.
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Finish, warm, sweet and sour, gooseberries. Peat smoke that lasts quite a long time, but always has a subtle sweetness.
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DrunkDude scored this whisky 86 points
It is a pretty old fashioned dram, with the smell meaty but flavors full of complexity.-
Malty, meaty, seaweed, slight apple fruity ness. Grassy, oily feel. An old fashioned one. Lavanda notes and peppery notes 88
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Rich citrus honey Sweet and plums, lemon sour, melon, hints of pepper spices, mashrooms, woody textures, rich citrus, ginger spices. citrus, orange peel 89
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Citrus sweet to peppers, then to citrus bitterness, chocolates, and ginger spices 88
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Gregers scored this whisky 85 points
Another interesting one from the Diageo Special Releases, though I must say it's nowhere nearly as good as the Lagavulin from the same release.
Review: https://youtu.be/2anjNPlidmI-
Sharp smoke, lots of brine, dried seaweed, charred wood, wet embers, acetone, bits of other woods and tar, something perfumed like cocktail berries.
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Very warm, perfect after being out on a winter day. Opens up with big alcohol bite and peat punch, but also something like tooth paste. The woodier, oaky notes join in. Second chew brings better balance with toffee, or even butterscotch, dried herbs and tobacco leaves, but still with that caramel sweetness hanging in there. Third chew brings traditional flavours, vanilla, butter, but smoke is still strong. Charred wood and a little bit of leather.
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Very warm, peppery spices, smoke is still strong, oak is light, slight sweetness remains with tobacco and dried thyme. Young and vigorous with a good punch, this one.
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Scoticis scored this whisky 88 points
For 12 years a really great and complex single malt which unfortunately loses its seductive intensity with air. If he could still hold it after opening the bottle, it would be 2 points more each. Needs a small drop of water to dampen the 58.4% a bit and add complexity. On the other hand, it works very well on its own. Price is rather borderline.-
The 58.4% press strongly in the nose and drive an insane sweetness forward, green unripe bananas and pears, a slightly cooling freshness alternates with the subtle but clearly and ingeniously integrated smoke, now comes a wonderful load of herbs and flowers like chamomile , Lemon balm, nettle, lemon grass, daisies, honeysuckle and a colorful flowerbed, now a fairly present wood load comes to light, there follows the change back to the sweetness, which now looks almost put on and perfumed, you have to like it, but I like it clear and somehow unripe looking vanilla, wood, smoke and a fresh sweetness stick after a long time
Described in adjectives: sweet, fat, smoky, fresh, woody, strong, herbal -
Very strong and strong with a mixture of the 58.4% and wood, plant residues and sweet tree sap with a small spoon of honey mix with the only slightly perceptible peat smoke, the pronounced variety of herbs from the nose is only subtly present, then comes wood with a great bitterness and a hint of charcoal, very fine mixture of vegetable juices, a few fruits, mainland campfire smoke and wood
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Bitterness covers the mouth, leather, pine cones, leaves that lie on the forest floor in autumn and cover a few mushrooms, pepper mixed with a nuance of peat smoke
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Palindrome scored this whisky 87 points
This one needs some "cooking." In other words, a few months of oxygenation. Yes, it has the telltale Diageo signature that the Lagavulin 12 2019 does not have. The Lag seems to be one of the few that escaped "designer" big batches. I bought three bottles of that one. Anyway, the Cragg is pretty good. I'm on the fence about getting a second bottle. A nice holistic presentation that isn't lopsided. I've got a bottle of the Ballechin SFTC 12 Bordeaux and it's much less balanced. It's also peatier but that's not the point. It's thinner and the malt seems to be fighting the peat to some extent. Not so in this Cragg. Considering that Cragg isn't even known for peaters, this one would have been surprising (if I hadn't known what to expect from reading reviews). I will record my tasting notes in a spell. Today, I tasted my friend's open bottle. I have a closed one at present with no plans to open it soon.the_muskox scored this whisky 82 points
Interesting stuff! I’m impressed with the amount of brine that’s in here, and the floral + smoke combo is usually a winner for me. I have to say though, I was expecting to like this more than I did. It’s a nice, fairly young peated whisky, with the play between the briny, ashy smoke and the rich sweetness being the highlight. For this flavour profile, I prefer Benromach Peat Smoke.
Nose: Sweet and briny peat. Seaweed, bonito flake, even some capers… sea buckthorn! The sweetness is heathered and rich – White chocolate, nougat, banana, pear, vanilla, maybe some rum-raisin ice cream. Some lightly roasted peanuts, almonds, and wheat crackers.
Palate: Lightly oily texture. Soft arrival, with juicy pears, grapefruit, and more nougat. Flowers, mineral water, lemon tarts, and salt in the middle, developing to ashy, heathered peat smoke. It seems smokier than the published 5 ppm figure would suggest. Whoa, this is a new one – it tastes like a fresh book smells, lightly papery and glue-y sweet. Cool! More flowers and light salt on the back end.
Finish: Medium length. Lingering ashy peat smoke, with egg yolk, pear, flowers, and fresh-cut grass.Georges scored this whisky 90 points
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Some pet smoke, floral notes, herbs, grassy, hay, heather, rhubarb, fruity (pineapple, bananas, apples, pears), spicy (cardamom, cinnamon), bacon
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Fresh, sweet, oily, creamy, fruity (lemons, apples, pears, oranges), honey, vanilla, spicy (pepper), toffee
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Long, smoky, sweet, fruity, chocolate, spicy, oaky, charred leaves, citrus
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karloff scored this whisky 83 points
This was a sample courtesy of lincolnimp. I love cask strength Peated whiskies and this was good but nothing special.-
This also has a little bit of a prickly nose but not enough to make it off putting, just a little tickle.
A nice fresh rain smell to it. I pulled over coming back from Carlisle yesterday to have a coffee and I was standing next to a farmer's field, he had just cut the grass and I could smell the cow shed, that mix reminds me of that.
Beeswax and pickle juice, very nice. -
At 58.4% it is quite palatable but nothing really exceptional judging by some of the scores. Flavour wise it is a bit one dimensional, maybe some mint and aniseed.
I will try a couple of drops of water with what I have left.
It takes the heat off but doesn't improve it at all. -
The finish is long as you would expect but doesn't leave anything that you haven't had before, a bit salty on the death.
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InbhirNis scored this whisky 89 points
Milroy's virtual tasting with Colin Dunn, 8 July 2020.
Expectations were high based on the reviews here, and it didn't disappoint.-
A big hit of peat, leafy yet surprisingly coastal. Leavens with water. Colin says they were aiming for a Talisker profile.
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A surprising crystalline sweetness cutting through the peat, which broadens when water is added.
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Peaty blast, followed by demerara sugar
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Soderberg scored this whisky 87 points
Fight65 scored this whisky 87 points
torstenB scored this whisky 89 points
A very interesting dram which reveals lots of different flavours over time.WhiskyBlood scored this whisky 91 points
valasios scored this whisky 88 points
lincolnimp scored this whisky 88 points
I really liked this, quite a simple profile but very tasty, better with a little water.Calmar scored this whisky 89 points
Despite the significant advantage of taste over aroma and finish, whisky does not seem unbalanced, everything is very harmonious, cohesive; the palette of derivatives is wide enough, some depth is present, but the main emphasis is on brightness and expressiveness, moreover, in the development of aroma / finish, they reduce the gap from taste.-
Discreet, dry, soft smoky peat notes, lemon peel, grain, mineral ash shades, mowed grass, coated tablets.
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Powerful, dense, oak, light smoky notes, charred branches, strong citrus tones - lemon peel, lemon slice in sweet May, orange peel; powerful pepper wave alternating with sweet, creamy-grassy shades, a bit of peat, light metal acidity.
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Very light, airy, lightest peat, lemon peel, creamy and lollipop notes, menthol.
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KDD scored this whisky 91 points
lustaufwhisky scored this whisky 87 points
Nose:
Pleasant smoke (I would tap blindly on a Talisker). Sweet with peach, dextrose. The aroma is somewhat reminiscent of honey-sweetened oatmeal. Vanilla and a light nuttiness are added. •
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Taste:
The smoke is also present in the mouth, but weakens significantly after the first sip. I can taste a hint of citrus. Now it gets sweet and creamy for a short time before the oak wort comes to the fore. I find some apple on the palate before it gets dry and slightly bitter.
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Outlet:
Medium smoky and sweet. A little nut comes after and then becomes dry.ctu scored this whisky 87 points
LeChiffre scored this whisky 87 points
Surprisingly complex for the 12 years, which he certainly owes to the smoke as an additional element. This floats in the background as a beautifully integrated element and makes it exciting. Tolerates some water to reveal itself fully. A successful bottling, albeit with borderline PLV.-
fresh-fruity; light fruits; Apple; Pear; Lemon; Honey; Vanilla (more and more clearly with water); delicate earthy-mineral note; subtle smoke in the background; Alcohol stings in the nose
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creamy; sweet and sour fruity; Pear; a lot of citrus; Herbal honey; peppery-spicy; slightly salty note; with a nice tender smoke
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warming; peppery-spicy; Citrus; delicate smoke
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Mannix65 scored this whisky 86 points
Interesting smoky variant of a Speyside classic - unfortunately I don't like the super modern style so much-
medium-strong smoke, the mineral fruit is reminiscent of a well-stored green Veltliner, green melon, a little lacquer, unripe solid pear, green apples - with a longer shelf life it becomes malty, crushed grain, lime
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clear smoke, freshly cut grass - again the green mineral base - bread, earthy
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smoky, fresh and sweet with medium length
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VaryingViewpoint scored this whisky 91 points
No water needed. Fabulous!dramidaris scored this whisky 86 points
ConvalRen scored this whisky 87 points
ldcsh scored this whisky 91 points
Wow, this is it~!-
Smoky, fruity, tropical
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Tropical juice~!
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KauffmanMD scored this whisky 89 points
Jackson05 scored this whisky 90 points
This is really great stuff. Easily better than the Talisker 15 from the same release, but that’s preference. Clean peat, honeysuckle, stone/tropical fruit, great mouthfeel, fresh mint with more beeswax and fresh honey. Beautiful. Now to track down a bottle...gaboruso scored this whisky 85 points
Max70 scored this whisky 85 points
Tasted at the end of a whisky dinner with friend, has resulted in a superb dessert. Fruity and sweet with a round body and spicy final.Robinzon25 scored this whisky 84 points
Well-filled whisky, with the right strength, with a twist (smoky Cragganmore), but not very deep-
Dry, dusty, smoky, filled with shades of foliage, aronia, gooseberries and broken apples. Shades of the sea are present.
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On the palate, the parity between fruit sweet tones and pepper, phenolic, sea salty shades is observed.
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Dry, medium-long, smoky, with a distinct effect of spices.
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MaltyMillionaire scored this whisky 86 points
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Very slight peat note, interestingly. Dry, oak, vanilla, and honey.
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Very mild peat, dry spice, white fruit, some mild sweetness.
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Very long and dry with spice and very subtle honey.
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Numwierum scored this whisky 86 points
Light smoke, grassy, floral, fresh citrus notes and a malt sweetness. In the mouth it starts violently and without a break. Sweet, a slight acidity sets in, pear, some green apple, then pepper, roasted malt and the smoke becomes more intense. Charcoal with a strong flavor remains after swallowing. In the nose everything was relatively reserved, but the taste really hits!Totoro scored this whisky 86 points
If this strikes you as too expensive, check out WID 124579-
Herbaceous, earthy, loamy, with plenty of fresh wood notes (broken branches) yeasty elements (porridge, sour milk, pickled-cucumber brine), young / bright fruits (banana, lemon, pineapple, melon), some creamy, vanillin-rich ex-bourbon wood, and an overcoat of peppery and ashy-dry smoke. Wears its young age on its sleeve, but it's pretty complex for a twelve-year-old.
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Salt-and-pepper potato crisps sprinkled with smoked paprika and served with a side of plain yoghurt. Toes the line between spicy/herbal and creamy/sweet; the fruits are way less present than on the nose, but there's some lovely citrus to be found here, as well as some soft florals. It says "refill" on the recipe, but to me, this feels almost like first-fill (and somewhat peppery) ex-bourbon wood - perhaps even too much so. Just a tad too creamy-sweet for my taste. But again: pretty complex.
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Very sweet and creamy. I feel like less active or "additive" ex-bourbon wood would've been better here. Long, though, with wafts of smoke and recurrent earthy / herbal impressions.
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Mark-E scored this whisky 84 points
spigray scored this whisky 84 points
This is just not my cup of tea. Too hot and bitter, no harmony. It initially reminded me to last years´ Talisker 8 yo in terms of sheer power but the Talisker is a totally different world in terms of harmony and flavour. I have the feeling that this dram does not know where it´s heading to. Seems not every spirit is made for peat!
Still not a bad whisky and I have to admit it gets better with a lot of water-
Very spicy and woody, sap, quite some smoke, burning coals, a bit of soot, shoe polish, mandarins in the background. leather
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peppery, ashy, rather dry and way too strong if sipped neat.
with water: still hot and burning, very ashy , green walnuts, strong tea, rather bitter -
long, peppery, bitter
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galg33 scored this whisky 89 points
Nose: Ah… interesting, the smoke is definitely here… a bonfire amidst pine woods, lemon meringue and a leafy touch to it as well. Waxy lemons, damp warehouses and a sweet pastry with icing sugar. A hint of coastal breeze and mint.
Palate: Smoky and round : very nice mouthfeel . It’s oily, and chewy with more smoke, pepper and ash. Also vegetal at times, with the citrus peel, and bitter oak. Wood spices and butter on burnt toast. very nice.
Finish : ash, oak char, apple peel, bitter orange peel, smoke and fading peat, quite earthy.
Conclusion: A very yummy smoky Cragganmore profile, which is indeed a breath of fresh air in the Diageo range. Recommended.PatSch23_12 scored this whisky 83 points
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surprising because there is clearly noticeable smoke. Crystal-clear distillery character, straightforward with almost slicing citrus freshness and tartness, paired with clear pepper flavor. The smoke that rises from the glass is grassy and herbal in nature
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pure enjoyed extremely impetuously, a little water is good for him and takes the alcoholic sharpness. Among them again classic mainland smoke with a campfire character, clear malt and citrus notes. Nice consistency, some beeswax and spice
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clear and mineral, some nuts, otherwise relatively short
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face scored this whisky 80 points
sakis scored this whisky 87 points
nhuber scored this whisky 87 points
Peated Cragganmore... Cold smoke, sweet medicinal... Lots of malt and fruits ... They used the same medium Peated Barley as for talisker... Why? There was a period of dryness and talisker springs did not have enough water so Diageo looked for malty alternatives and that's why they produced Peated whisky for four months... This is the result from that :)dRambo scored this whisky 87 points
makes nothing wrong - but not my nerve, too modern, nose not mine, for easy drinking he is good with a swoop of water - but he is too expensive. With a lot of patience, I can still tickle out some great flavors here and there - but it's easier to buy a malt that suits me better. I rather like the old Cragganmorestyle from 20 years ago.-
first nose without water - overripe partly fermented fruit - with some time, gentle hand warmth and a drop of water rather yellow melon in yummy, lemon and lemon - unfortunately also a bit too much pungent citrus oil for my taste - where I'll quickly be reminded of toilet stone and lime cleaner , Does everything go away over time - the peat notes become more beautiful -
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light peat - tingling - fruity lemon, melon, cooked pear nice sweet and sour, light wood, grassy, slightly neutral bitterness - really tasty with water
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galg33 scored this whisky 89 points
The Second whisky I am about to review is perhaps the most ‘interesting’ of the range. A smoky Crag’ is not something we normally see, in fact it’s the first time Diageo is releasing such a Cragganmore with this profile… ???? Nice one. As for cask profile it’s nothing fancy : matured in refill American oak casks.
Nose: Ah… interesting, the smoke is definitely here… a bonfire amidst pine woods, lemon meringue and a leafy touch to it as well. Waxy lemons, damp warehouses and a sweet pastry with icing sugar. A hint of coastal breeze and mint.
Palate: Smoky and round : very nice mouthfeel . It’s oily, and chewy with more smoke, pepper and ash. Also vegetal at times, with the citrus peel, and bitter oak. Wood spices and butter on burnt toast. very nice.
Finish : ash, oak char, apple peel, bitter orange peel, smoke and fading peat, quite earthy.
Conclusion: A very yummy smoky Cragganmore profile, which is indeed a breath of fresh air in the Diageo range. Recommended.whiskycuse did not rate this whisky
A very interesting malt, which has reminded me of the style of the old original bottlings of the 1990s, but whose complexity he can not match. I liked the stronger smoke presence very much.
https://whiskycuse.wordpress.com/Othorion scored this whisky 87 points
Very light whisky, looks like white wine. But still a delicious, very tasty whisky, which is surprisingly complex for a 12-year-old, especially on the palate.-
Smoky vanilla pudding, apples, pear juice, heather honey, a hint of lilac, grassy and a little smoked bacon.
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Spicy, sweet, comforting heat spreads, creamy, honey, pear compote, nutmeg and some pepper, green apple, gooseberries, salt, honey all interwoven with a subtle smoky note. Delicious!
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Warming, spicy with smoke and caramel.
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detachedblue scored this whisky 87 points
Very interesting batches that used peat, some interesting farminess.-
Old leather, interesting farminess, main tone is sweet malt, some damp coal.
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Sweet and herbal, farminess, old leather, sweet pears, some peat, rather simple.
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Ashy smoke, short to medium, little farminess
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Ed Radour scored this whisky 88 points
GLEN MAUR scored this whisky 85 points
ARDBERG scored this whisky 90 points
Holy smoky fruit bomb!
I could and maybe should leave it at that. The nose is nothing shy of a 2004/05 Ledaig bourbon cask and in the mouth the fruit bomb explodes, releases a fruity freshness that just makes me smile - no Ardbeg could get there albeit the citrus inside... Some peaty Ardmore in the finish...
Totally surprising. Gary Haggart (distillery manager), what did you distill here? Just fab!
Schmeckt wie: ich will wieder an die Nordsee... (für Eingeweihte)
2cl sampleHvdree scored this whisky 89 points
markjedi1 scored this whisky 86 points
Cragganisker
Cragganmore is Gaelic for ‘high rock’ and the distillery can be found in central Speyside, in the valley halfway between Aberlour and Grantown-on-Spey. While very popular with the blenders (it is an important ingredient of the Johnnie Walker Green Label for example), it only become well-known with a larger audience with the release of the Classic Malts, albeit only as a 12 years old. In 2014 it made its entrance into the Special Release as a 25 years old. This year we are treated to something special, for this Cragganmore is… peated!
It’s a bit of a scare on the nose at first. Obviously one does not expect peat when nosing Cragganmore. But it carries it well. Initially very sweet – almost candy-like – on apples and pears. Then suddenly heather and peat kick in, giving me the idea that I am sniffing a glass of Ardmore or Ledaig. No, wait! This is more like Talisker. What is all this? But it is both fun and good, so no complaints here.
On the palate, the surprise is even bigger. It is sweet and salty at the same time. Taste this blind and you’ll swear you are sipping Talisker – I kid you not! Again apples, pears, gooseberries and kiwi berries! But no matter how atypical this Cragganmore may be, it is very tasty!
In the long finish I again get some sweetness in the guise of caramel or butterscotch.
Definitely the surprise of the series. Recommended!GIORGOS scored this whisky 88 points
dillz scored this whisky 90 points
One of the cheaper Diageo 2019 special releases but a surprisingly great dram. Quite the malty and smoky profile, no complaints at all. Goes down like [insert dirty metaphor here].
As hs305 said, the peat/smoke is rather Highland (Ardmore) than Islay; if you are a fan of that not-so-maritime style go ahead and get a bottle!JungleDram scored this whisky 89 points
First impression:
A 12-year-old tortured Speysider in cask strength. "Sober" looks rather less sexy. The bigger the surprise in the glass. A very complex and varied malt, which reveals more and more with each further sip. A warm-spicy mouthfeel, fruity, spicy and floral in equal parts with just the right amount of smoke. The bottle will not last long, so I imagine the perfect malt for the cold season.hs305 scored this whisky 90 points
[November, 2019] Cragganmore is an overlooked distillery by many whisky connoisseurs which is a pity because it owns an interesting and delicious profile, if the selected casks support it and not fight against it...
...and these casks were very appropriate. If you like Ardmore go for this release because it offers a comparable profile with the extra Cragganmore kick. This is a really nice surprise out of this year's special releases and I could quaff this any day at any time (by the way, this is dimensions better than last year's 8-years old Talisker which was hyped by some experts - but again, there is no accounting for taste). I ordered two more bottles...
[November, 2021] I re-tasted this dram tonight and fully confirm my old review and score. This truly was a very interesting experiment that was successful meaning delicious too (which happens not that often). Still I could quaff this on any day...-
The colour is pale gold and the nose offers exactly the Cragganmore profile that I like plus peat. It is very impressive on both grassy-floral-fruity malt and spicy-herbal wooden aromas in balance with the delicious peaty notes which remind me of my beloved Ardmore. Hey Diageo, did you hear the bell ringing about your previous extremely wood-driven hence unbalanced releases? If so, kudos! There is still a lot of wood impact in this nose but it does not overpower everything else and rather backs and supports all other flavours (as it should be).
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In a blind setting I would have guessed this is a delicious Ardmore (due to the peat) but it offers more interesting fruity-floral impressions than Ardmore does. This dram is greatly chewable and releases a lot more flavours this way: fruits, sugars, honeys, waxes, toffee and more. This is very complex for a 12-years old, again kudos! The peat is of the mainland type (no maritime impressions but a warming bonfire in the heather fields) and fits perfectly to all other flavours. You can flagellate me but I like this mix very much.
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The initial mouthfeel is warming with some hot moments (58.4% abv) and a minor coating effect. The finish is of medium length and adds some tasty milk chocolatey notes which are completely unexpected but very welcomed. No distracting bitter or drying moments whatsoever. Water releases chalky-mineral aromas in the nose and turns the taste sweeter and smoother, hence more quaffable. I like this dram both neat and reduced but in doubt I prefer the raw power of the neat dram.
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Tastingtags
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