Cragganmore 12 a good introductory Speysider or not?

[Elagabalus]

Just wanted some opinions on Cragganmore 12. Do you think it is a good introductory Speysider?

[SoMK]

I'd say why not alongside with the Glenfarclas 12 if you want to stay away from the smoke..
I'd personnally prefer the Cragganmore but that's just me

[Mr Fjeld]

I don't know if it's a good introduction as a Speysider or not but it's certainly good! If you like your whisky with subtle qualities rather than the "in your face" style sherry or smoky ones then it should be perfect. Is there any standard age whisky with a better integration between almondy oak and the whisky? I also agree with SoMK's suggestion of the Glenfarclas 12. I love it; fruity sherry scents and both dry and sweet in the mouth. A bold 12 year old with a lovely unpretentious screw cap and liter bottle

[Reggaeblues]

Both are great, tho' my first significant Speysider was the Macallan, and I loved it. That was before I really knew waht a "Speysider" was - or had encountered the naked, unsherried versions. For me one of the most satisfying , to my surprise, was the Glenfiddich 15 Solera reserve. Kinda sits in the middle, but very rounded. Not too sweet, not too dry...but maybe a bit more expensive. Certainly the best 'fiddich OB I've tried.

[TheLaddie]

I think the Cragganmore is ideal. Glenfarclas and Macallan are good whiskies but I think it's better to try something unsherried if you want to get an introduction to an area or style of whisky you haven't tried before.

[bond]

Its a great whisky for sure but I would think its more complex than the average spey. Not reflective in that sense..

[Deactivated Member]

Another very good "introductory" Speysider would be Balvenie.
MT

[laphroaig10_65]

Cragganmore 12 yo was my introductory Speysider some years ago; very nice but too complex for an introduction; Aberlour should have been more suitable.
Bye
Luca

[Paul A Jellis]

I would say that Cragganmore 12 is an excellent intro to the Speysiders. True it is complex, but then why not start with something very good and work outwards from there.

[Elagabalus]

Cragganmore 12 yo was my introductory Speysider some years ago; very nice but too complex for an introduction; Aberlour should have been more suitable.
Bye
Luca

Which Aberlour they vary in complexity.

[Reggaeblues]

Surely the Aberlour OB 10 would be the one. Why furnish a "special" on a novice? the OBs are good enough to get one acqainted. I don't know anyone who had a Macallan 18, or OMC etc, before thay had the 10. Nor anyone who cut their teeth on Laphraig CS before getting acquainted with that style via the 10 YO OB, nor the Ardbeg 77 before the 10, etc.

You get my drift. It takes time to get acquainted, to educate one's palate. The subtleties of vintage bottlings would have been lost on me in the early days.

I'll tell you one Speysider that's good and cheap - the Lidl supermarket Ben Bracken. Under £15, very drinkable and with typical speyside notes to the fore without being particularly sherried...

[laphroaig10_65]

Cragganmore 12 yo was my introductory Speysider some years ago; very nice but too complex for an introduction; Aberlour should have been more suitable.
Bye
Luca

Which Aberlour they vary in complexity.

Aberlour 10 yo. Other suitable bottles would be Glenfarclas 12 yo and Macallan 12 yo (old style), but I don't think Glenlivet 12 yo would be a right choice, very different in quality. Of course, in my opinion.
Bye
Luca

[lincoln imp]

If you want an introduction to speyside Glenlivet 12 is a good starting point but Cragganmore is a personal favourite of mine and i do not believe it is too complex for a beginner. The 12yr expression is about £20 in Asda at the moment.
Reggaeblues has mentioned Ben Bracken at Lidl. Is it worth buying? I ask because i was under the impression that Lidl bought casks from Tamnavulin and that is what Ben Bracken is. I have not seen many decent reports for 12yr old Tamnavulin?

[Reggaeblues]

I was given a Tamnavulin long ago which I quite enjoyed, but the Ben Bracken which i later had didn't remind me of the Tam.

Besides , if they ARE the same whisky, we have Jim Murray scoring BB at 88, and the Tam 12 at 79!!

different whiskies, or different days?!?

[Elagabalus]

Personally I prefer the Aberlour 10 to the Balvenie 10. The Aberlour 10 is now almost 7 dollars cheaper than the Balvenie 10.

[Danny]

Cragganmore is a personal favorite and I think an excellant introductory Speysider.

Others are Glenlivet. Macallan and Balvenie.

[jazz lover]

Cragganmore is excellent also Aberlour a'bunadh

[kronkelkreeuw]

Too complex for a beginner? Eh? The complexity was one of the reasons I started bothering with malts in the first place! (well, that and peat).
I think A'bunadh is a good introductory Speysider, lots of character and power, and very affordable. But if you want to go for something lighter, Cragganmore or (if the introducee has a sweettooth) Aberlour will do the trick!

[Deactivated Member]

Speyside has so many distilleries and they produce such a variety of whiskies that it is impossible to identify one as a good introduction. Many have a grassy finish, but some don't. I would suggest giving people the best introduction by giving them the best affordable whiskies. These might include:

Sherry: Glenfarclas, Macallan
Fruity: Glenlivet, Glenfiddich
Spicy: Aberlour, Longmorn
Smoky: Ardmore
Young malty: Tamnavulin, Glenrothes NAS

I don't know Cragganmore very well but I'm sure it could slot in somewhere. The point is that there is no single whisky that typifies Speyside.

[jazz lover]

For value I'am glad you mentioned
Longmorn on your list.
I would like to add Strathisla also
wonderful and affordable.

[TheLaddie]

Too complex for a beginner? Eh?

Absolutely. I well remember the days when I would taste a good whisky, screw my nose up in disgust and remark "Oooh no. That's far too complex!"

I can't really see complexity being offputting as long as the components are balanced (as they certainly are in Cragganmore) and are individually pleasant aromas and flavours.

One of the beauties of a whisky like Cragganmore is that it is an accessible introductory malt but has many of the qualities valued by the experienced enthusiast or expert.

I know of many people who were introduced to malts with a base expression of Glenfiddich or Glenlivet. I know of rather less enthusiasts who will still turn to those base expressions.