Review #112 - Shieldaig 12 Year Rum Cask Finish
'Big-Box Retailer' Scotch Series: Part 6 of 6
To wrap the series, we'll head back to Shieldaig for another 12 Year, this one specifically finished in rum casks. It comes in at 43% ABV, and the price is at a slightly more premium point compared to the 12 year without the rum finish.
Shieldaig 12 Year Rum Cask Finish
Scotland/Speyside - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 58 (2023)
Age Statement: 12 Years
Strength: 43% ABV
Cask Makeup: Finished in rum casks
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 3 months; bottles at 70% and 40% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Semi-sweet to start with plenty of spiced oak, candied orange, brown sugar, and some mild vanilla; it turns sweeter later, with stronger vanilla and a hint of cream. There's bananas foster rum sauce, a hint of stone fruit like peach, even a hint of plum at times. With more air time, we get just a whiff of amaro and dry oak.
Palate: Just mildly spirity but mostly in the vein of oak and spice - cinnamon, licorice, woody, surprisingly dry. There are sweeter notes of sugar water and candy, as well as orange fruit and an orange creamsicle. The mouthfeel is medium-thin, and that might even be generous.
Finish: Bits of sugar or molasses, some cream and caramel as well; the finish is where this whisky gets a lot sweeter. It's medium length, and as it progress, sweet creamy orange and vanilla come in, followed by baking spices of white pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. There's creme brulee and just a mild oakiness to finish.
Final Note: A pleasant, semi-sweet sipper, but very little in the way of complexity or challenging flavors. All of the notes seem to be in two veins - creamy sugar and wood spice; if that's your jam, you might like this one a little more. This is like the cousin of Balvenie's 14 year Caribbean Cask, but a little less interesting and bold.
Our Average Rating: 5.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.68
Check out some of our other Shieldaig reviews:
