Cragganmore

Cragganmore – The elegant classic from the heart of Speyside

In the picturesque valley of the River Spey, near the small town of Ballindalloch, lies the Scottish malt whisky distillery Cragganmore. It was founded in 1869 by John Smith at the foot of Craggan More Hill. Smith had previously worked as a manager at renowned distilleries such as Macallan, Glenlivet and Glenfarclas, and was regarded as one of the finest distillers of his time . With his own distillery, he sought to create a whisky of unique elegance.

The choice of location was as visionary as it was pragmatic: Cragganmore was the first distillery in Scotland to deliberately align its location with the newly laid railway lines, in order to facilitate the transport of raw materials and finished whisky . In addition to the Craggan Burn as a water source and its proximity to the River Spey, the railway line offered ideal conditions . Today, the distillery lies on the official Malt Whisky Trail and is part of the global spirits group Diageo.

Cragganmore’s distinctive style is the result of a special production method. Lightly peated barley is used, which gives the whisky a subtle smoky note. The distillery has two wash stills and two spirit stills with unusual shapes, which give the whisky a complex, heavy and slightly meaty character . Distillation takes place in worm tubs, traditional copper cooling coils. The majority of the whisky is matured in ex-bourbon casks made from American oak.

The result is an exceptionally well-balanced single malt. The nose reveals complex aromas of honey, toffee, flowers and dried herbs. The flavour is malty, well-rounded and has an elegantly silky texture, with light smoky notes in the long, sweetish finish. Cragganmore’s 12-year-old bottling is one of the famous ‘Classic Malts of Scotland’. A special feature is the Distillers Edition, which is finished in port casks, lending the whisky additional depth and spicy aromas of plums, cocoa and cinnamon.

Cragganmore is a whisky for connoisseurs who appreciate the fine art of balance . With its fascinating blend of sweet, spicy and subtly smoky notes, it has secured a firm place amongst Scotland’s great single malts.