1985 Cragganmore 22 Year old Speyside

Colour: Gold.

Nose: Starts on very big notes of oak (sawdust, vanilla) and develops more on apricot pie and cigar box. Whiffs of incense, white chocolate and coconut. With water: more of everything but also an improved smoothness. Still demonstrative.

Mouth (neat): All kinds of spices (cinnamon first, then cardamom, aniseed, carvi…) A lot of paprika too. With water: it got a tad more herbal and grassy, with the tannins really coming to the front.

Finish: Rather long, grassy now (and orangey).