Scotch Whisky Review #443: Dràm Mòr Ruadh Maor (Peated Glenturret) 10 Year White Port Cask Finish (2012)

Image credit to Dràm Mòr Group

Distillery: Glenturret.

Region: Highland.

Age: 10 Year. Distilled in 2012 and bottled in 2022.

ABV: 58.7%. Cask Strength.

Cask Type: White Port Cask Finish.

Color: 0.6, Old Gold.

This dram is the seventeenth of 2022’s Christmas Countdown! Whiskies from previous years can be found here.

Every year, I look at the advent calendar offerings that pop up across the pond and think that it would be super cool to do something like that (it is actually the inspiration for my review spree in December). Turns out, I wasn’t the only one who wanted to do one so between /u/federalagents, /u/DangerousDoorknob, and I we put our own together! This is the sixteenth dram of the calendar. It was reviewed partially blind as in I know the whiskies in the calendar but not the order.

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Nose: This is very, very stinky. It is somewhere between rotting grapes and a really smelly balsamic vinegar, I imagine it is the white port really taking the reigns. A little bit of peat comes through but not a ton.

Palate: There is a nice light peat level with a bit of sweetness. Something that reminds me of a smoked white fish dip is the major note and not a whole lot else is going on here.

Finish: Medium in length. There is a little bit of smoke that really makes up the most here, it is faint but it lingers a bit longer than you might expect.

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Guess: Scotland. Malt. Highland. 10 Year. 45-50% ABV. Glenturret Ruadh Maor 2012 White Port.

Reveal: Dràm Mòr Ruadh Maor (Peated Glenturret) 10 Year White Port Cask Finish (2012).

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Conclusion: I’ve not had peated Glenturret before and I’ve heard it can be some really interesting stuff. This one seems like the cask took over the nose a little bit too much. It is really, really stinky with notes that I have to assume are being driven by the white port cask finish. The palate is a bit simple, but tasty, with a nice smoked whitefish dip. Not a ton going on for me but perhaps enough to keep me interested in what other peated Glenturrets can do, at least once that haven’t been bludgeoned by their casks.

Final Score: 75.

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Scotch Whisky Review #443, Highland Review #88, Whisky Network Review #598

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Scoring Legend:

• 96-100: The perfect dram, nectar of the gods.
• 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky and I will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection if feasible.
• 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product and I’m likely wanting a bottle or two.
• 80-84: Quite good, pleasant overall though there is usually a few things that could be improved still.
• 75-79: Good, enjoyable to drink but ultimately flawed.
• 70-74: Alright, solid and wouldn’t go out of my way to get it.
• 60-69: Meh, still drinkable.
• Below 59: If you have a bottle of this, start cooking with it instead.