Cragganmore 26 Yrs. Cask Strength Collection (Sig), 53%abv

[Quaich1]

Neat-
Nose:Peppermint-apple, sweet smoke, banana-toffee, hint of cinnamon, fruit n'spice and marzipan.

Palate:Fruity sweet changing into a thin wall of flaming spice, mellowing quickly to creamy honey.

Finish:Touch of leather covering some subdued fruit and later a tart bitter push-back.

With a few drops of water-
Nose:Sweet honey-nectar-marzipan bursting forward, pistachio ice cream, malty candy and papaya notes.

Palate:Sweet mintiness yielding to reduced stewed fruit, tart green grapes and a hint of spice and leather.

Finish: Mouth-watering, lingering, then tart prune nectar, spiced honey, lemon rind with a somewhat bitter push-back at the end, slightly eucalyptus.

This older Cragganmore lives the good cop-bad cop metaphor with dramatic changes in aromas and flavors but here the bad cop brings the A game to the table as well.
Would definitely recommend.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)