Cragganmore 1985 - Wu Dram Clan & Hong Kong Whisky Fellows - 45,3%
Photo taken at Roche Bobois Stuttgart
Long time no Whisky on this blog! Let's change that as Limburg is just around the corner. Cragganmore, one of the most underrated distilleries and always a classic in the classic malts series, especially when you find an old one. That's actually a quote from Sebastian from Wu Dram Clan, who were blessed to bottle this super old Crag' with Diageo and the Hong Kong Whisky Fellows for the Cask of Distinction Series. No sherry in sight. Wonderful.
Nose
Bwaahh this is some proper old school Highlander alright! Wet wooden planks. Wet rock. Wet hay. Wet furs. Very elegant. Venus in Furs! Some waxiness from a very northern distillery as well. Also a very refined fruitiness of apricots and quincies and most of all: distillated nuts, mostly macadamia and walnuts. After a while a precious bergamot note steps out the drapes, lending the bouquet a nice freshness. Once again our mantra: Ex-Bourbon cask and time. But it seems the industry stil doesn't want to listen. Still there are red wine casks all over the place.
Palate
Take a sip of scottish sea water, add two dashes of lime juice, walnut oil, a tea spoon of butter and a vanilla pod, stirr, Cragganmore. Brillant! On the nose we've had Brora vibes, the palate is totally in Campbeltown though! The texture is smooth like a...nah let's not get down that Murray road, but we think you'll get it. Pure oil this one. Heavy body and great sweetness. Very, very sippable.
Finish
Like in Hänsel & Gretel it's leaving back a trail of lemons, bergamot and white pepper, on a long and dry road. What's not to like here?
Rating
Bwaahh this is some proper old school Highlander alright! Wet wooden planks. Wet rock. Wet hay. Wet furs. Very elegant. Venus in Furs! Some waxiness from a very northern distillery as well. Also a very refined fruitiness of apricots and quincies and most of all: distillated nuts, mostly macadamia and walnuts. After a while a precious bergamot note steps out the drapes, lending the bouquet a nice freshness. Once again our mantra: Ex-Bourbon cask and time. But it seems the industry stil doesn't want to listen. Still there are red wine casks all over the place.
