Tastes

Tastes cheap and drinks hotter than it should at 45%, which is odd for a low rye, mega award-winning bourbon. It blows my mind how this could possibly be an allocated item. I honestly don’t understand why people rave about this stuff with its bizarre saccharine sweetness. It’s being bought as if it’s about to go out of style. It is obviously a “trendy bourbon” at the moment, just like everything else Buffalo Trace Distillery produces, but there are superior burbons in the same price range in my opinion. I have avoided it for years simply because it’s allocated in my state and I didn’t want to pay an extra $12 to purchase it from a package store rather than a state store. I also have a tendency to avoid “trendy whiskies” anyway, but I finally decided to pull the trigger and see what all the hype was about. I was thoroughly disappointed in this bottle. It isn’t terrible but I would never recommend it to anyone unless you can find it for under $30. It’s fine for a very mediocre, bottom shelf daily sipper/mixer as long as you don’t have to pay over SRP. When it comes to bourbons under $40, I’ll take Bulleit, Woodford Reserve or Clyde May’s all day over this stuff.

If you enjoy Johnnie Walker Green Label then you’re in familiar territory with Cragganmore. Johnnie Walker didn’t lie when they stated Cragganmore was their lead malt for Green Label. I would guess Cragganmore makes up a solid 75% or more of that blended malt. Talisker, Linkwood and Caol Ila are hardly even noticeable in JW Green. I honestly don’t understand how many retailers can charge as much as $80 for a bottle of 40% abv Cragganmore 12, when JW Green both noses and tastes like Cragg but at 43% abv and with a 15 year age statement for only $65. I live in a control state where they have recently discontinued the sale of Cragg 12 and heavily discounted it. This was literally the last bottle left in the ABC system, so I felt obligated to purchase it. I will give a proper review of this whisky after I give the bottle time to open up. Mostly, I just wanted to inform people on how much they’re potentially saving by purchasing a bottle of JW Green instead. I’m sorry, but Cragganmore 12 feels like a complete scam whenever it’s sold at suggested retail price. I can see why this single malt sold so poorly here.

More “whiskey” for people who don’t drink whiskey. Tastes more like cinnamon schnapps than actual whiskey. I have my doubts if there’s any real Canadian whiskey at all in the recipe…probably just neutral grain spirits, but who knows? It’s just my opinion. Just stick with Goldschlager if you can’t handle the taste of a real whiskey.

“Whiskey” for people who don’t drink whiskey.

This is an overlooked gem! I get a very savory roasted pecan nutty note on the nose which is also confirmed on the palate. I honestly don’t understand why this offering isn’t receiving more attention.

Overall a very enjoyable dram but I was slightly disappointed considering the price. It strongly reminds me of the An Oa expression on first opening. For the cost they could have increased the proportion of older sherried whisky in the mix. Nice proof point but honestly I prefer the standard TEN when taking value into consideration. That said, Uigeadail still beats Lagavulin 16 hands down! NOTE: Now that I’ve gotten the neck pour out of the way it’s finally starting to open up and the dark fruit sherry notes are beginning to shine through.