Today we compare a duo of Croftengea single casks. Croftengea, as you may know, is the name given to highly peated (50 ppm) single malt that is double distilled in straight-neck stills at Loch Lomond. It’s a really nice peaty profile and while I don’t actively seek out more of these, I always seize the opportunity to try them when available. So today, we put face to face two indy Croftengea 2007: Wemyss Malts vs North Star Spirits.
Croftengea 2007 Wemyss Malts (2022) Review
In the black corner, we have a Croftengea 2007 single cask that Wemyss Malts bottled in 2022 at 15 years old. They reduced it to 46% ABV, and the hogshead produced 349 bottles, which Wemyss filled without chill filtration or added colouring. You can still find it in the Netherlands and France for around €130. Retailers like whiskysite.nl and Clos des Millésimes still have some, for instance.
Colour:
White wine.
Nose:
Neat: Unexpectedly maritime and medicinal, with notes of crushed seashells, sea foam, and kelp, blended with antiseptic and gauze. There’s also a farmyard element, reminiscent of a stable and the farmer’s rubber boots. Subtle hints of citrus fruits emerge, like oyster water with a touch of lemon juice and shallot sauce.
Palate:
Neat: The initial mouthfeel is light but effective. It starts sweetly, with peat and spices quickly arriving, accompanied by brine and pepper. Flavours of sweet lemon curd, roasted pear, white chocolate, and mint follow.
Finish:
Smoked mint, liquorice root, antiseptic, and tinned fruit syrup linger, with a touch of wood. The finish is medium long.
Comments:
Initially, I thought my friend might have mistakenly put an Islay whisky in the sample bottle and mislabelled it, or that this Croftengea was surprisingly maritime. However, after verifying the label in the picture next to the notes, it turns out this Croftengea is indeed maritime and unusual, which I appreciate. Over time in the glass, it becomes a bit too sweet and light. It might have been better at 50% ABV.
Rating: 6/10
Croftengea 2007 North Star Spirits (2021) Review
In the blue corner, we have another Croftengea 2007 single cask. North Star Spirits bottled this one in 2021 as part of their Cask Series 014. Matured in a refill hogshead, they bottled it at 13 years old at 49.7% ABV (though I’m unsure if this is its natural cask strength), without chill filtration or colouring. They released it at a very reasonable price (£50–60), which explains why it sold out. I bought a bottle for €63 in 2023, so it didn’t fly off the shelves.
Colour:
Pale straw.
Nose:
Neat: Tropical fruits dominate, with notes of kiwi, guava, pineapple, and lychee. A very light smoke accompanies custard, wine gums, malt, and peach yogurt.
Palate:
Neat: The peat is more prominent on the palate. Ripe yellow fruit, mango, prunes, sugar, and white pepper mingle with light oak notes. Citrus flavours of tangerine, lemon, and hints of grapefruit complement custard and hay.
Finish:
Long, smoky, and citrusy, with oak and coffee undertones, rounded out by butterscotch and carambar.
Comments:
I included this Croftengea in an online tasting for my friends at Geekzone a couple of years ago, and it was by far the favourite of the five we tasted together. It remains a fantastic whisky – easy to drink, with a lovely peat and fruitiness, and a complexity that invites both sipping and analysis. It‘’’s a shame it sold out, as I would have loved to have a backup bottle.
Rating: 7.5/10
Thanks Mathieu! Pictures courtesy of Whiskybase.