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1999 Cragganmore 20 Year Old (Special Release 2020) Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND
$230. 00
Bottle
$2760.00 Dozen
ABV: 55.8%

Tasting note: [15ml sample] From refill casks and new fresh-charred casks. Opening suggestions of honey and muesli. Minor spirit prickle. After 2-3 minutes, this sweetens and deepens as tea biscuits and beeswax come to the fore. Thick, chewy malt with dense cereal and cream sponge cake overtones. A little oak-heavy through the mid palate. Bitter dark chocolate is accented at the finish. Very textural. 55.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

Other reviews... Cream, vanilla, and fresh orange juice feature on the early nose, followed by a slightly herbal note. Ultimately sweet and floral, with nougat. Luscious sweet orange notes on the palate, with toasted cereal, before dry wood spices appear. The finish is relatively long and nutty, with a sprinkling of pepper. 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com

I think it is some kind of owl on the label. Colour: pale gold. Nose: firm, on tangerines, zests, melon liqueur, manzanilla tea (not wine) and a little grass. Whiffs of hand cream. Not hugely expressive this far, but I’m sure water will unlock it and unleash quite a few more fruits. With water: not quite, we’re rather towards sponge cake and biscuits. And why not, nothing wrong with that! But I’m not finding too many idiosyncrasies, as they say in rap. Mouth (neat): thick and textured, sweet and yet tense and firm, rather on high-strength triple-sec at first, cereals, then something like beer sauce. Mead as well, chouchen (Breton honey spirit)… It’s really thick, oily, and potent. With water: even creamier, and rather all on cereals, Golden Grahams, barley and agave syrups, sweet beer… Finish: rather long and thick, and rather on peanut butter, more cakes, more cornflakes, golden syrup, marmalade… Comments: very very good, it’s just the most timid we’ve had so far. Big and yet gentle – remember that band, Gentle Giant? 86 points - whiskyfun.com