Ruadh Maor is what Glenturret names its batches of peated single malt. Distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2022, the whisky spent 11 years in a single bourbon cask that yielded a total of 291 cask-strength bottles.
Appearance: White wine (1). A corrugated viscous film quickly forms with a series of medium legs. The thin swirl mark quickly beads up.
Nose: Smoke-forward with beach BBQ vibes, briny and sweet. sticky honey BBQ ribs, Jack Daniel’s (sorry) BBQ sauce and ashy embers. Some lifting zesty lemon, honey nut cereal and subtle black pepper. A plasticine note appears after some more nosing.
Palate: Lovely creamy mouthfeel, the ABV is carried well. Subtle smoke, creamy mellow flavours and a pleasingly gentle spice. A bit creme brulee and a bit of rice pudding with strawberry jam. Some faint wood notes creep in but remain slight.
Finish: Medium in length. The rice pudding and gentle spice last a while. Cooking apples also linger for a while, with black pepper.
Overall: Not my favourite from these guys but still a nice quality dram that many will love.
