This month the BAMS elders selected two expressions from the Speyside region of Scotland for a tasting at Deb's house in Berkeley.
We chose the warm, mellow Aberlour 12-year and the delicate, complex Cragganmore 12-year.
[Note: the following tasting notes are not necessarily the opinions of the BAMS elders or the owners of this website.]
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Aberlour 12 year tasting notes:
- Long, slow, very mild finish. Nutty aroma. Extremely mellow.
- Very smooth with no burn. Flavor opens and deepens as it goes down.
- Sweet but spicy, like an alcoholic Jolly Rancher.
- Distinctly like honey, followed with a spicy finish.
- Sweet at first, then spicy.
- The bite of this Scotch was the most exciting thing. It travels down the tongue. Also sweet like honey.
- Luke
- I agree. Tastes a lot like honey. Very smooth.
- At the end it fizzles on the tongue.
- Hints of horse piss and leather. Aftertaste of DDT, tobacco. When did I start smoking? Fears of GHB, cirrhotic liver failure. More please.
- Tastes like want to keep drinking more.
- Haiku: boozy redolence/kilt wearing alcoholic/I'll take another
- Very berry, fruity front. Spicy, hot middle. Smokey, fiery tail. Similar to Macallan from last time except with more complexity and character. - K
- Mellow start, spicy in back of the mouth.
- Juicy start, slightly smokey, burning finish. -JD
- Persimmon nose. -PB
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Cragganmore 12-year tasting notes:
- This may be my new favorite scotch. Floral, light, peaty, and balanced. Just awesome. -DE
- Reminds me of Laphroaig, almost saying to me, "remember when Laphroaig was your favorite?" -CT
- Makes me feel like I'm someone important. Floral nose. -PB
- Delicate is the key word, but full of subtle flavors that can all be enjoyed because none of them hogs the spotlight. Does with a scalpel what Laphroaig does with a sledgehammer. -JD
- Liquorice at the finish... also caramel.
- Sweet taste opens up, complex smokey finish evolves. This whiskey is great! -JH
- Very complex and subtle!! Hints of mint, liquorice, coffee, maple syrup... smokiness like a smooth cigar(ette)! -K
- Very light nose, but slightly heavy on the tongue and back of the throat (in comparison to the first, which was fragrant & light on the throat).
- A bit nutty?
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Be it flavored of brine or of sweet,
or the taste of the smokiest peat,
be it thick in the legs,
or from sherry soaked kegs,
just be sure that my Scotch be served neat.
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