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Classic Scottish Malts 1

A fabulous collection of malts to introduce yourself or your friends & family to the complexities of malts. Experience the classics of the 3 Scottish regions - Speyside, Lowland and Highland. Always best to start with the classics!

Cragganmore 12 Year Old

Type Scotch
Style Single Malt
Region Speyside
Country Scotland
Distillery Cragganmore
ABV % 40
Aged 12
NOTES:
RM345.00

Lessons in the Dram

Go into any Scottish bar, and you’ll hear the word “dram” (not to be mistaken for “damn”) on repeat throughout the night. Today, “dram” is understood as a glass of whisky. In the distant past, an apothecary used “dram” as a unit of measurement for pharmaceuticals. If we put two and two together, whisky could actually be medicinal. Just think about it.

Description

An easy, smoky dram that tips a little to the sweet side. Zero peat in this one, but it has plenty of intricate flavours from nose to finish. The unparalleled complexity is likely a result of Cragganmore's uncommon pot stills with flat tops and especially short necks, used in the second distillation. A speciality that gives the 12-year-old that extra meatiness.

It was John Smith who blessed us with this heritage from 1869. He was a promising distiller for The Macallan, Glenlivet, and Glenfarclas, but decided to start one of his own. Thus, Cragganmore was born. The location was selected for practical reasons: it was near a water source and close to the newly constructed Strathspey Railway. Cragganmore is now under the care of Diageo, but John’s spirit is still very much alive in that place.

Awards

3rd Place
Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years – 2015 International Whisky Competition

Tasting Notes

Sight
Golden amber
Nose
Scattered creamy fragrance of floral, fruity, nutty, and barn-like notes. There are earthy herb-like heather flowers, juicy fruit salad, roasted almonds, and dry stemmy hay.
Palate
On the palate is a nuts galore consisting of almonds, walnuts, and chestnuts. It is rich and plated beautifully with stone fruits and berries, and honey poured over.
Finish
Holds long enough to enjoy the smoky notes with hints of peppery spices.

Glenkinchie 12 Year Old

Type Scotch
Style Single Malt
Region Lowland
Country Scotland
Distillery Glenkinchie
ABV % 43
Aged 12
NOTES:
RM345.00

Lessons in the Dram

Single Malt scotch whisky—what is it?

It’s whisky made from a single distillery. Not a single batch nor a single barrel, but a single distillery. For example, a Single Malt from Glenkinchie may use whiskies from different barrels, but all of those whiskies must be produced in Glenkinchie itself. As long the whiskies used are from that one same distillery, we can call the final product a Single Malt whisky.

Description

Hands down one of the best introductions to the Lowland region. This Glenkinchie flagship whisky possesses the easy-going trait of those living a simple life in a verdant green land. It is light and smells of grass. Gathers fruits and cooks them for a living, adding a pour of Sauternes wine for taste. This 12-year-old makes a good starter before a warm meal.

Awards

Winner
Best Lowland Single Malt – 2016 World Whiskies Awards
Winner
Best Lowland Single Malt – 2014 World Whiskies Awards
Winner
Best Lowland Single Malt – 2013 World Whiskies Awards

Tasting Notes

Sight
Golden
Nose
Light, royal-like aroma surfaces with a fusion of salty almonds and hazelnuts. There are sweet Manuka honey or beeswax, and barley malt undertones.
Palate
Undeniably fruity. It’s a delightful sweet concoction of stewed fruits, apple peels, dessert wine, and honey. An oaky mix is stirred in after a while, creating a smooth fusion of sweet flavours.
Finish
Medium length. Ends with a stroll through the meadow, with yummy barley and freshly cut grass.

Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old

Type Scotch
Style Single Malt
Region Highland
Country Scotland
Distillery Dalwhinnie
ABV % 43
Aged 15
NOTES:
RM369.00

Lessons in the Dram

God dram, Scotland! They produce so much whisky that there are nearly four casks for every Scot living in the land. If you do the math, that’s 20 million casks of maturing whisky in one country. But hey, we ain’t complaining.

Description

Only 10% of the whisky produced is bottled as a Dalwhinnie Single Malt. The 15-year-old is one of them. The remaining 90% contributes to the highly acclaimed Black & White blended scotch whisky. That means there’s only a 1 in 10 chance of getting a Dalwhinnie dram.

Dalwhinnie, a small village up in the Scottish Highlands, has a population of only 80. You read that right: eight zero. The village has a small school, an inn, a train station, a pub, and of course, the Dalwhinnie Distillery established by John Grant in 1897. Basic amenities, that’s all that’s needed.

It’s a small distillery with only one wash and one spirit still. At an altitude of 1,100 feet above sea level, the Dalwhinnie is recognised as the coldest and literally the highest (not in proof) distillery in all of Scotland.

Awards

Gold
Liquid Gold Award – 2014 Jim Murray's Whisky Bible
Gold
Single Malt Scotch – 13 to 19 Years Old – 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Gold
Highlands & Islands 13 to 18 Years Old – 2013 The Scotch Whisky Masters (The Spirits Business)
Silver Outstanding
Scotch Single Malt – Highland – 2017 International Wine & Spirit Competition
Silver
Highlands & Islands 13 to 18 Years Old – 2015 The Scotch Whisky Masters (The Spirits Business)
3rd Place
Best Single Malt Scotch 13 to 17 Years Old – 2015 International Whisky Competition
Bronze
Daily Dram – 2013 Malt Maniacs Awards

Tasting Notes

Sight
Golden
Nose
A floral aroma that leads into a garden afternoon tea. The nose picks up a tray of pears, apple peels, nectarines, toffee, and milky custard. All around are apple blossoms and honeysuckle, and a whiff of smoke.
Palate
The first impression is malty. Lightly spiced cereals with soft smoke seeping through them. Then, walnuts coated with Manuka honey and a slice of vanilla sponge cake. Delicious!
Finish
Long, the malty and walnut notes linger on, admitting almond into the party.
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