Single Malt Scotch Aged 10-12 - 2011
 


Best Single Malt Scotch, 10-12 Years Old
2011

 

The Fifty Best Single Malt Scotch 10-12 yo Tasting 2011

 

The Tasting:
At Cigar Inn in NYC, 26 journalists, retailers and aficionados tasted 19 single malt scotch whiskies, aged 10-12 years. Strict tasting rules were implemented. The products were served "blindly", without distractions of brand names. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Each of the scotches were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and immediately served at room temperature. Ice water and bar mix was available to cleanse the palate. Tasters were encouraged to add a few drops of water to the scotch, if desired. The judges wrote down their impressions of each product on score sheets.

The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the best. Double-Gold, Gold and Silver medals are awarded based on a set range of final point scores received from the judges.

The tasting notes are summaries of the judges’ opinions. Prices quoted are for 750ml sizes, and may vary by state.

SINGLE MALT SCOTCH (10-12 y.o.) TASTING RESULTS:

 

Cragganmore 12

DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

1. Cragganmore 12 - (Speyside) $50

Nose: Floral elements, hint of pineapple, easy vanilla, fruity, wood. Palate: Controlled wood, cedar, creamy, orange peel, dark fruit, dried fruit, citrus, hint of vanilla, toffee, cinnamon, cloves, some spice, hot orange, smoked pepper, floral, sherry, rich mouthfeel, well-balanced, very smooth, refined, easy to drink, very nice, excellent. Finish: Clean, smooth, dried fruit, oaky almond, creamy, sherry, spicy, lingering.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



2. Laphroaig 10 - (Islay) $50

Nose: Peat, oak, nuts, orange. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, pear, off-lemon, cashews, toast, peaty, smoky, charcoal, woody, oak, leather, hint of sweetness, spicy, pepper, nice. Finish: Smooth, pepper, buttery, light treacle, smoky, nice, kind, even, long.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Laphroaig 10


Dalmore 12



3. Three-Way Tie - Dalmore 12 - (Highlands) $50

Nose: Medium oak, citrus, caramel, light charred wood, dried berries, orange, earthy. Palate: Rich, caramel, trace of oak, sherry, vanilla, almond, Fourth of July pepper, tangerine, fruity, floral character, creamy, honey sweetness, hint of cinnamon, leathery, salty, slightly smoky, smooth, well-balanced, classic. Finish: Coffee, ginger, smooth, short, great, long.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Glenfarclas 12 - (Speyside) $50

Nose: Spicy, dried fruit, cherry. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, creamy, butter, toffee, almond, orange, sweet, some spice, herbs, woody, oak, smooth, beautiful, exceptional. Finish: Great, brilliant, balanced.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Glenfarclas 12


Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength



Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength
Batch 003
- (Islay) $72

Nose: Smoke, spearmint, caramel, butterscotch, bourbon, orange peel, spice, nutty, floral. Palate: Peaty, dark wood, coal, ash, woody, honey, cherry, spicy vanilla, dried fruit, ginger notes, peppermint, cinnamon, some spice, nutty, oily, full bodied, cask strength, tangy, chewy mouthfeel, opens with water, well rounded, smooth, aged, mellow. Finish: Strong, spicy, nice, long.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

Tomintoul 12 Limited Edition
Oloroso Cask Finish
- (Speyside) $70



Nose: Citrus into orange, butterscotch, honey, caramel, spice, pepper. Palate: Sweet, spicy, subtle, savory, sherry, molasses, brown sugar, burnt honey, caramel, toffee, oaky, nutty, salty, caraway, clove, orange peel, dark fruits, rustic, musky, oily, medicinal. Finish: Chocolate cake, salty, spicy, rum cask, nice, even, smooth, balanced.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Tomintoul 12 Oloroso


Glenkinchie 12



Glenkinchie 12 - (Lowland) $50

Nose: Light smoke, citrus, honey. Palate: Peppery, spicy, oak, smoky almond, salty, hint of peat, malty, herbaceous, grassy, floral, cereal, clove, ginger, dried fruit, honey, caramel, treacle, toffee, raisin, lemon, citrus, sweet, oily, silky, smooth, elegant mouthfeel, well balanced. Finish: Nice, with honey and dark fruits.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Aberfeldy 12 - (Highlands) $45

Nose: Light, vanilla, fruity, caramel. Palate: Peaty, nutty, baked cloves, rich layers, some spice, nutmeg, acorn, honey, vanilla, caramel, sweet to semi-sweet, fruity, orange notes, citrus oil, oak, light cedar, oily, light on smoke, well-balanced, very good, very smooth, excellent. Light bodied. Finish: Woody, nutty, toffee, pepper, medium.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Aberfeldy 12


Benromach 10



Benromach 10- (Speyside) $45

Nose: Orange, caramel, oak. Palate: Peaty, chocolate, charcoal, caramel, vanilla, smoke, smoky oak with spice, woody, leather, salty, bacon, dark roasted coffee bean, cereal, malty, hints of berries, dark fruits, apricot, orange peel, smooth, medium bodied, interesting. Finish: Spicy, pure, velvety, medium-to-long.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Old Pulteney 12- (Highlands) $40

Nose: Vanilla, orange, citrus, almond, creamy, malty. Palate: Woody, peppery, smoky, creamy, vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, hint of toffee, orange peel, dried fruit, cinnamon, apples, fruity, almond cedar, sweet, spicy, salty, floral, mossy, tannic, smooth, delicious. Light bodied. Mild heat. Finish: Even with leather, toffee, notes of citrus and some spice.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Old Pulteney 12


Arran 10



Arran 10 - (Isle of Arran) $50

Nose: Smoke, spearmint, caramel, butterscotch, bourbon, orange peel, spice, nutty, floral. Palate: Fruity, tannic, spiced, husky melon into chocolate, right amount of peat, hint of smoke, woody, nutty, toffee, caramel, dark fruits, citrus, floral notes, creamy, light, smooth, pleasant. Light bodied. Finish: Lovely almond, ginger, vanilla.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood - (Speyside) $52

Nose: Mild, robust, orange peel, brown sugar, butterscotch. Palate: Caramel, citrus, mandarin orange, orange, dried fruit, nuts, almond, peppermint, creamy, buttery, vanilla, honey, sweet, salty, spice, some smoke, woody, touch of peat, balanced, smooth, elegant, classic. Finish: Soft, long, complex, spicy, nutty.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood


Ardbeg 10



Ardbeg 10 - (Islay) $57

Nose: Sweet, toasty oats, caramel, almond, woody, moss, peaty. Palate: Peaty, smoky, sweet, mild spice, smooth, creamy body, citrus tones, honey, vanilla, butter, pepper, leather, charcoal, medicinal, cedar, light bodied, balanced, water releases floral notes, toasty notes and wood (oak) on back of palate. Finish: Complex, sweet, lingering, with a hint of cloves.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Tomatin 12- (Highlands) $36

Nose: Peaty, floral, vanilla, brandied cherries. Palate: Citrus, lemon/orange, creamy, vanilla, caramel, burnt sugar, toffee, coffee beans, fruity, almond, ginger, sweet, rich, spicy, pepper, tannic, peaty, oak, cedar, medium smoke, hint of sherry, medicinal, smooth. Finish: Great, smooth, coffee, toffee, pleasant bite.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Tomatin 12


Talisker 10



SILVER MEDAL WINNERS:

Talisker 10 - (Isle of Skye) $60

Nose: Rich, light oak, fruity, citrus, vague vanilla, caramel, raisin. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, light smoke, tanic, slight oak, cereal, toasty, toffee, dried fruit, cinnamon, mild citrus, floral, fruity, sherry, sweet, spicy, pepper, musky, oily. Full mouthfeel. Medium bodied. Finish: Smooth, slightly spicy, peppery, coffee, lingering.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Speyburn 10 - (Highlands) $27

Nose: Lemon, cedar, lightly sweet, fruity, flowery, rosebuds. Palate: Smoky, woody character, toffee, vanilla, butter, caramel, clove, almond, coconut, tropical notes, raisins, ginger, floral, sweet, nutty, oak, hints of pepper, some spice, sherry, creamy, smooth. Finish: Nice, smooth, light pepper, hint of lime, strong.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Speyburn 10


Jura 10



Jura 10 - (Isle of Jura) $42

Nose: Herbal, vegetal, floral, light oak, cedar, butter, vanilla, cinnamon. Palate: Herbal, vegetal, floral, heather, oak, butter, vanilla, caramel, orange, mango, citrus fruit, tropical fruit, fruity, raisin, light chocolate, sweet, surprising pepper, slightly peaty, leather, smoke, oily. Finish: Long, spicy, malt, hot, nice bite.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Glengoyne 10- (Highlands) $45

Nose: Salty, maritime, light citrus, burnt caramel, lightly floral. Palate: Strong pepper start, herbaceous, grassy, floral, woody, oak heat, cereal, toast, saltines, dark chocolate, vanilla, sweet, spicy, smoky, musty, tangy. Finish: Complex, sweet, oak, espresso, strong, harsh, short.

Silver Medal
Silver medal



Glengoyne 10


Caol Ila 12



Caol Ila 12 - (Islay) $60

Nose: Smoky, peaty, butter, vanilla, citrus. Palate: Heavy peat, toasty, bread, mild smoke, cedar, iodine, oaky, peppery, fruity, nutty, salty, briny, oily, charcoal, citrus, tropical flowers, tulip, honey, toffee, vanilla, mediocre, disappointing. Finish: Weak, smooth, creamy, smoky, ashy, rough.

Silver Medal
Silver medal

 

 

 

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