Since a couple of years there is an annual cask of whisky bottled for the City of Zwolle. This all started when they were named ‘Capital of flavour’ (Hoofdstad van de smaak) a few years ago. For that event Hans Offringa, the Dutch whisky writer, bottled a cask of Macallan.

After that they had a couple more bottlings and I believe this was the 4th one. A 12 year old Cragganmore bottled in 2010, distilled in 1998 and bottled at 46% ABV, Bourbon cask. Apparently bottled by Signatory.

Nose:
Pina Colada! I got coconut and tropical fruit, especially tinned pineapple. Lots of sweet syrup and for some reason it also made me think of those edible violets. There’s also a very light cereal scent.

Taste:
Slightly dry in the mouth, dusty. There still some kick lingering, even at 46%, but its more like a 2 year old playing football. Also a bit of red fruit, I get strawberries.

Finish:
A nice finish, not too long and not too complex. Quite fruity again.

A nice dram, nothing wrong with it. The nose is very good with all kinds of surprising scents. Its a great dram to start an evening and start it off in a good way.

Cragganmore 12, City of Zwolle, 23-2-1998 – 18-10-2010, 46%, bourbon hogshead. No longer available, but it used to cost about € 50.

Nose: 8
Taste: 7
Finish: 7
Overal experience: 7
Price/quality: +1

Total: 30 points