A young and affordable Cragganmore 1999 from the recent releases by Malts of Scotland.
Cragganmore 11 yo 1999
(55,1%, Malts of Scotland 2011, bourbon hogshead, MoS 11012, 298 btl.)
Nose: a lot of oak and spices. Big peppery notes and hints of allspice. Grass. A very bourbonny profile. Sweet fruity notes that are hard to pin down: apple maybe or just nondescript fruit candy. Some vanilla and coconut.
Mouth: sweet. Again very very spicy (ginger, pepper). Liquorice. It just ooses (fresh) wood. Pencils, oak shavings… Sweet orange candy.
Finish: long, warm and peppery with hints of green apple and oak.
This Cragganmore shares quite some elements with bourbon whiskey and it even shows more oak spices than some new oak matured whiskies. Good spirit from an extremely active cask. Around € 50.
Score: 82/100