Ruadh Maor 12 Years - Dràm Mòr
Bottles from the independent bottler Dràm Mòr have been discussed on this page several times before. With great dedication and expertise, Dràm Mòr strives to preserve the tradition of Scotch whisky. They describe their cask selection process as open and open-minded. From the summer selection of 2023, today we have a 12-years Ruadh Maor. Behind this name, which is probably completely unknown to the mass market, lies the smoky distillate of the Glenturret distillery. This cask, with the number #9002123, received additional maturation in a First Fill Bourbon Hogshead.
The panel
Mean 81.0 · spread 4
Value for money 3/5
- Distillery
- Glenturret
- Bottler
- Dràm Mòr
- Type
- Single Malt
- Region
- Highlands
- Country
- Scotland
- Age
- 12 years
- Strength
- 56.4% ABV
- Character
- peaty
Tasting
Nose
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.
Palate
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.
Verdicts
Marcel
This Ruadh Maor delivers exactly what it promises: a smoky campfire experience with a wonderfully sweet bacon note. It’s not the most complex malt, but that’s precisely what makes it so charming and easy to drink – perfect for relaxed evenings by the fire.
Sascha
A clearly defined smoke profile meets a balanced sweetness here, convincingly reflecting the cask character of the First Fill Bourbon Hogsheads. Despite its straightforward aroma, the malt remains intriguing thanks to its pleasant viscosity and finely tuned finish.
What it is worth
We do not yet hold bottle-level auction results — that sits behind Whisky Hunter’s authenticated feed. What follows is the market for Glenturret as a whole, which sets the weather for this bottling without pricing it.
Latest mean bid £171 across 77 lots · 2024-08