Cragganmore Distillers Edition Double Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

All six of Diageo's 'Classic Malts' have released limited edition 'Distiller's editions', which are finished in special casks selected by the master distiller. The Distiller’s Edition Cragganmore returns to the past and brings a new dimension to this benchmark malt, via the finishing of the whisky in Port-wine cask wood. Doing so, Cragganmore’s Master Distiller has found a wonderful partner, adding succulent plummy fruit notes to the malt. Aromas of light caramel fudge, cinnamon and vanilla. Later passes reveal a fruity aspect as honey drizzled pear and light prune over toasted oatmeal. A relaxed, medium-bodied malt offering spiced plum, blueberry muffin (?) and vanilla flavours rounded off with a peppery flourish. More depth on the finish. The port adds a discreet enhancement and there's distant peat in the aftertaste. Eminently drinkable. 40% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... The tightly closed fruit on the palate doesn't quite match the more complex and expansive nose. 85 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2017

...Cragganmore is a deep malt but its richness is often obscured by its fruity sweetness. A period in port pipes allows this element to be amplified. The black currant is now fully fruited and acts as a flavor bridge while the meatiness that sits underneath and often unseen is revealed. Think cherry pipe tobacco, clove, and dark fruits. Sweet, but not too sweet, and always identifiably Cragganmore. For me, the pick of the bunch. 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com