Cragganmore 1992 Distillers Edition

After having the Balvenie 21yr Portwood, then the Glenmo Quinta Ruban, I was excited to hear that Cragganmore also had a Port finished whisky: 1992 Cragganmore Distiller's Edition.

On the nose: Some brine & spirit, peppery oak and perhaps some minted honey & orange rind. All this was drawing me in, big time.

Palate: Nothing, at first, like the nose. Initial reaction: Butter, the feel is like melted butter with a warming toffee flavor. Then, it gets a little spicey and tingley (think ginger on a good sushi roll). There more wood influence then port but wow, a nice experience so far.

Finish: Lasting, oakiness, spiced orange (the taste of the smell of oranges that have cloves stuck in them, if you know what I mean).

Was expecting a little smoke here, as with the standard Cragganmore (just a little smoke) but I think something overtook it, perhaps the port...

A nice special occasion dram (flavor wise, not $$-wise).