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Cigar Malt (1996) Madeira Fin 11 YO 70cl @ 54.9% Vol

The Cigar Malt
Fifth Edition

Chieftain's Cigar Malt Mild

Region:      Highland
Wood Type:      Madeira Finish
Cask No:      90521
Distilled:     19/02/1996
No of  Bottles:     372
Bottled:     September 2007

Natural Colour, unchill-filtered


This year, because of new smoking laws, our panel of nosers, tasters and smokers for the latest edition of the Chieftain's Cigar Malt had to travel south to Berwick on the English side of the Border to enjoy a combination of smoking cigars and tasting the many cask samples of the 2007 pre-selection of single malts.

Our panel was composed of: Keir Sword and Stuart Smith both from The Cigar Box on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Regis Lemaitre, Spirits Consulatant, RegisWhiskymad, Rob Allanson, Editor of the Cigar and Whisky Magazines’ and Jens Tausch of the European Cigar Journal, as well as Antony McCallum-Caron, Ian Macleod Distillers Rare Malt Manager.

This edition of the Mild was chosen from a selection of over 10 different single cask Cigar Malts for its light and mellow character, an ideal companion to be sipped and enjoyed at home or with friends with a mild cigar.


Keir Sword, Owner, Cigar Box, Edinburgh:
"Lots of fruit and spice on the nose  with aromas of  dried apricots, mint, tinned pears with some pine-resin spicyness. Lovely big palate with a creamy texture and a peppery spicyness".

Jens Tausch, Consultant, European Cigar Journal, Germany:
"If you need relaxation in the early afternoon, you will be pleased by this smooth version of cigar malt. It comes along with flavours of Butterscotch, stud food and subtle oaky notes. The taste of malty sweetness with decent notes of burned sugar is a perfect occasion for a Dunhill Aged Caleta. Another perfect combination would be a mild to medium Honduran cigar (Camacho Criollo Robusto)".

Stuart Smith, Manager, Cigar Box, Edinburgh:
"Nose – Quite fruity on the nose with some toffee and stewed fruits emerging – a pleasing balance of flavours here. Sweeter dried fruits emerge with water, as well as some herbal characters. Palate – Soft and very approachable. Mix of green fruits and cask sweetness. A touch of water enhances these and brings in a creamier side. Finish - Lovely interplay of flavours carries on with the finish. Creamy character with water really shines here. Works particularly well with lighter, more delicate cigars – the creamy sweetness combines extremely well".

Regis Lemaitre, Spirits Expert, RegisWhiskyMad:
"Nose Prickling, Caramel, Floral Sweetness, stewed apples on the nose; The taste is oily, sweeter and sour mix. When diluted Christmas cake fruitiness, dried fruit, oily sweetness with dry warm and big timber lasting notes on the finish.
My recommendation would be to half your whisky into 2 glasses. The first glass, I would suggest you add a few drops of water to it and consume it as you light your cigar up. The second should be consumed undiluted now that your Cigar smoke, heat and intensity increase. Thus matching a more robust experience in both cigar and whisky! My Cigar recommendation is "RAMON ALLONES full Flavour Robusto-sized".

Rob Allanson, Editor of the Whisky and Cigar Magazines’:
"Nose: green bananas, butterscotch, coconut with a light oak note there too. Sweetcorn and butter. A touch of water opens the nose up perfectly. Palate: Citrus, orange and creamy with plenty of grip from the oak.  Cigar: Hoyo de Monterry Epicure No2".

Antony McCallum, Rare Malt Manager, Ian Macleod Distillers:
"An extremely aromatic fresh nose of cooked apples and lemongrass which follows through on the palate with citrus fruit, floral sweetness and oakyness.  Very creamy, slightly dry on the finish with some peach stone aftertaste."