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Monday, March 21, 2022

Cragganmore 12 year old (bottled 2018)

Part of the original crop of United Distillers' Classic Malts back in 1988, Cragganmore 12 year old has always been bottled at 40%abv, filtered and dyed. Around 15 years ago, I enjoyed Cragganmore 12yo, but it's been more than a decade since I've sipped it. So I bought a wee bottle of to find out how the whisky tastes all these years later.

Distillery: Cragganmore
Region: Speyside (Moray)
Owner: Diageo
Range: Classic Malts
Age: at least 12 years old
Maturation: ???
Alcohol by Volume: 40%
Chillfiltered: Yup
e150a: Indeed
(from my 200ml bottle)

NOTES

I find a mix of gummy bears, barley and cardamom in the nose's foreground. Coal dust in the middle. Green apples and watermelon candy in the background.

The palate begins with moderate sweetness, barley, vanilla and a peppery heat. It takes on a considerable buttery note with time. The texture is watery throughout.

It finishes with barley, tannins and hint of sweet citrus, picking up butter and caramel with time.

WORDS WORDS WORDS

"Not a step up from Diageo's middle shelf blends," reads my handwritten notes. Really. One is better off choosing Johnnie Black, Old Parr 12, or Buchanan's Deluxe than this single malt. It's even possible that the Glendullan Singleton can compete. Cragg 12 is thin and forgettable. There's nothing unique to its palate. Though the barley notes have potential, generic oak clambers roughshod on top. It has taken too much energy to consume 1/3 of this wee bottle. What a bummer. Looks like this is another one going the way of highballs.

Availability - Many specialty retailers around the globe
Pricing - $55 to $85 (WHAT?)
Rating - 73