An old warehouse in Ballindalloch. Steam rising from short, flat-topped pot stills, water drawn from the Craggan burn, and a bottle that has been waiting since the 1990s. This is Speyside the way it was once bottled — in the big litre format with the yellow capsule band.
Expert description of Cragganmore 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Cragganmore 12 Year Old is the distillery's core expression and Speyside's representative in Diageo's Classic Malts series. This is an older bottling from the 1990s in the now-discontinued litre bottle with the yellow band — a design collectors recognise and seek out. The whisky itself comes from Cragganmore, founded in 1869 by John Smith in the village of Ballindalloch in the heart of Speyside.
What sets Cragganmore apart lies in the distillation. The pot stills have an unusual flat-topped shape with a short neck, and that helps give the spirit its complex, full-bodied character. The water is drawn from the mineral-rich Craggan burn right beside the distillery, and fermentation runs slowly in traditional wash backs made of larch. Cragganmore has a reputation as one of the most complex single malts in all of Speyside.
The classic 12 Year Old matures in ex-bourbon casks, which keeps the oak in check and lets the distillery's own nutty, malty style come forward rather than heavy vanilla and spicy wood. The result is a balanced, finely woven dram that has been Cragganmore's calling card for decades — and which served as the soft malt backbone in blends such as Johnnie Walker and Old Parr.
Tasting notes
Nose
Clean and inviting. Citrus on the opening — orange and lemon peel — followed by soft caramel, roasted almonds and malted biscuits. A discreet floral note sits underneath.
Palate
Fresh and malt-driven at the same time. Fresh citrus continues, joined by sweet toffee, malt and oat biscuits. Nutty and rounded with a light, clean texture.
Finish
Gentle and malty, fading softly with a faint spicy warmth and a touch of dried fruit.
Specifications
Name: Cragganmore 12 Year Old
Distillery: Cragganmore Distillery
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 1000 ML
Cask type: Ex-bourbon
Edition: Discontinued litre bottling, 1990s
Flavour profile
Malty · Nutty · Fresh · Citrus · Soft · Rounded
Did you know?
Cragganmore was the first Speyside distillery to be sited deliberately around the railway. John Smith chose the spot because it sat right next to the Strathspey Railway — a line now closed and turned into the Speyside Way walking route.
See our full range of
Cragganmore
