Cragganmore 12 year old 1 litre OLD VERSION single speyside malt whisky 40%

An old warehouse in Ballindalloch, steam from short flat-topped pot stills and water from the Craggan Burn. This is Speyside as it was once bottled — in the big litre bottle with the yellow band.

Expert description

Cragganmore 12 years Old Version is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 40% in a litre bottle.

The release dates from the 1990s, when Cragganmore was still sold in the discontinued litre measure with a yellow duty band — a design collectors know and look for. The distillery was founded in 1869 by John Smith, who sited it close to the Strathspey railway, locally known as The Whisky Line. Cragganmore still uses worm tub condensers, which almost nobody else does, and that is a large part of the reason for the heavy, complex house style.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet heather and meadow flowers first, then honey, vanilla and a dry nutty cereal note from the years in glass.

Palate

Soft and finely woven. Malt, honey, sandalwood and a touch of sweet wood smoke, carried by a lightly oily texture the modern bottlings do not quite reach.

Finish

Long and malty with sweet hints, dried herbs and a faint smoked warmth at the end.

Specifications

Name: Cragganmore 12 years 1 litre Old Version Single Speyside Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Cragganmore
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40 %
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks
Edition: Old Version litre bottle with yellow duty band

Flavour profile

Soft · Malty · Honeyed · Complex · Lightly Smoked

Investment potential

High. The litre measure is discontinued, the yellow duty band is no longer used, and 1990s bottlings are only available to the extent that people kept them.

Did you know?

Cragganmore was built where it was because John Smith wanted the railway close by. The Strathspey line was called The Whisky Line, and the distillery got its own siding — whisky out, barley and coal in, without touching the poor roads.

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Frequently asked questions about Cragganmore 12 years 1 litre Old Version

How can I tell it is an old bottling?

The litre measure and the yellow duty band. Both belong to the 1990s and are no longer used. Together they are among the surest markers of an older Cragganmore.

What is a worm tub?

An old-fashioned condenser where the vapour runs through a coiled pipe submerged in cold water. It gives less copper contact than modern condensers, which helps make the spirit heavier and more complex.

Does it taste different from the current 12 year old?

Many people find the older bottlings carry more body and a clearer malted depth. The underlying character of heather, honey and light smoke is the same.

What is the Classic Malts range?

Diageo's selection of six distilleries, each representing a whisky region. Cragganmore was chosen as the Speyside representative, which helped make the 12 year old the flagship of the house.

How should an old bottle be stored?

Upright, dark and cool. The cork does not tolerate constant contact with spirit, and direct sunlight both bleaches the label and changes the flavour over time.

Does it belong in a Speyside tasting?

Yes, precisely because it does not resemble the others. Where most Speyside malts are light and fruity, Cragganmore is heavier and more complex — see the rest of the region in our Speyside Whisky.