5 Canmore single casks

Charles Edge is a London-based spirits company. At the lower end they created Scots Gold, a Johnnie Walker-inspired blended whisky (Red, Black, 8 and 12 Years). Then there’s the Canmore brand, which includes a NAS single malt and a 12 year old version (both of which will be reviewed later).

Today we’re focusing on their activities as an independent whisky bottler. We’re looking at a batch of five Canmore single cask releases. All middle-aged whiskies from a wide variety of distilleries and styles, bottled at 46% ABV to level them out.

 

Glen Garioch 12 yo (46%, Canmore 2023, first-fill bourbon cask, 287 btl.)

Nose: nice and fruity. Mashed bananas, greengages and mirabelles, as well as some vanilla and golden raisins. A little chamois leather in the background. Then almonds and sponge cake come forward, as well as a slightly synthetic floral / potpourri touch.

Mouth: still a fruity onset (peaches), but more drying malt and spicy notes now. Aniseed and nutmeg. Then chalky notes, herbs, light agave and hints of ginseng. Then some sunflower oil and green tea. There’s a clear spirity edge and the flavours are not very exhuberant, I’d say, it remains a bit of a barley eau-de-vie.

Finish: quite long, with a woody note, white pepper and neutral grains.

After the nose I was hoping for a fruity Glen Garioch. It doesn’t really fulfill this promise, becoming slightly narrow and austere on the palate. Not a bad dram though. Available from Charles Edge direct for instance.

 

 

Glenrothes 10 yo (46%, Canmore 2022, bourbon hogshead, 470 btl.)

Nose: youngish and very natural, with zesty citrus, apples and hints of vanilla cream. The robust malty character of the spirit is easy to notice. Baking spice, bread and hints of toffee. Okay, fairly raw, nothing to get excited about yet.

Mouth: more apples and pears, now in a slightly sweeter, stewed form. Shortbread, with hints of nutmeg and lemon zest. It’s really bready though, with plenty of breakfast cereals. Some vegetal notes, peanuts and a slightly spicy / grassy astringency too.

Finish: medium length, now adding toffee and latte to the big malty core. Apples and spices aplenty.

One that didn’t leave a big impression. It’s a decent, malty Glenrothes but it doesn’t offer enough beyond its raw spirit. Available from Master of Malt for instance. Score: 80/100

 

 

Craigellachie 14 yo (46%, Canmore 2022, bourbon hogshead, 352 btl.)

Nose: grist, green pears, apples, gooseberries and lemon candy. Sweet beer and white bread, hints of plantains and vanilla cream. Hints of white wine and honey as well. A clean no-nonsense bourbon cask.

Mouth: a nice creamy texture, with hints of bananas, sweet apples and shortbread. Some buttered pastry and hints of custard. Then some cent wafers with milk chocolate and light hints of mocha. All along there is a wave of grassy oak running through.

Finish: quite long, with more milk chocolate biscuits, malty notes, lemons and mild wood.

A very malty malt with an above-average weight. A decent cask too, adding a typical bourbon influence with nice hints of milk chocolate. Available from Master of Malt for instance. Score: 84/100

 

 

Bunnahabhain 12 yo 2009 (46%, Canmore 2022, first-fill sherry butt #900019, 913 btl.)

Nose: funny start, on diesel and new bicycle inner tubes (two aromas I quite like, actually). Later some red fruits emerge, like cherries and plums. Also tobacco and chocolate, with oak building over time. Nice but that volatile, slightly industrial edge never disappears.

Mouth: sweet and sherried, with a good dose of red fruits again. Raisins, plums, sherry trifle and a dash of rum. Hints of cinnamon and vanilla, with chocolate and clove following later. Walnuts and a bit of leather too. Still something industrial.

Finish: medium length, with more sherry flavours, black peppercorns and a slightly drying, almost chalky touch.

Although the sherry influence may seem heavy, this is somehow a surprisingly nimble, light-footed dram. Available from Master of Malt for instance. Score: 86/100

 

 

Ardmore 10 yo (46%, Canmore 2022, bourbon barrel, 309 btl.)

Nose: peat, rocks, wet wool and radish. Hints of parsley, grass, fresh bark and coal dust. Easy hints of lemon and vanilla in the background. Pretty simple, but we’re not complaining.

Mouth: same idea really. Easy-going peat smoke, more of a charcoal note, with lemons and leafy touches. Hints of powder sugar and a vague pear sweetness before it gets grassy towards the finish. Pepper and mustard too.

Finish: medium, still peppery with a balanced sweet note and light wood smoke.

A simple Ardmore. Complexity is fairly low and while it is technically perfect, I would have given it more time in the cask. Score: 83/100