Ruadh Maor 12 Year Old - Drám Mór
Peaty, Leathery2024-04-04
Smell
The aroma reminds us of a burning, rusty fire barrel. We perceive the smoke of smoldering fire without finding earthier notes of peat or tar. The smoke has a hint of iodine, but by no means as plaster-like as one would expect from Islay malts. After a few minutes in the glass, the First Fill Bourbon cask can unfold its effect. We detect sweet vanilla and a hint of honey.
Taste
Upon first sip, we immediately taste the sweetness of glazed honey bacon. An almost barbecue-like combination of sweet vanilla and meaty smoke unfolds on the palate. The notion of iodine, present in the aroma, has completely disappeared. The mouthfeel is very pleasant. The malt has high viscosity, is slightly dry, and has a tingling dusty quality.
Finish
The finish is simple and rather short for a smoky whisky. The delicate smoky profile lingers somewhat. Otherwise, we perceive fine oak notes and some sweet-spicy grill aromas.
Thoughts
This cask of Ruadh Maor is truly the prototype for a campfire-smoked-bacon-barbecue aroma in whisky. This very tasty combination does exactly what it's supposed to do very well. The malt is extremely straightforward and strictly adheres to this flavor profile. In our opinion, this doesn't necessarily make it unique, but it's no less delicious. The team at Drám Mór has once again done a great job in selecting the cask - truly beautiful.