Cragganmore 12 years old Classic Malts Old Version Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 100 cl 40%

When Diageo picked six distilleries in 1988 to represent Scotland's regions, the Speyside seat went to Cragganmore. Not the biggest name — but the most complex.

Please note: Wear on the carton.

Expert description

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

The bottle comes from the Classic Malts of Scotland range in an older guise, when the label still said Highland Malt — Speyside was only recognised as a region in its own right much later. The litre measure has long been discontinued, and the carton is included, though it carries the marks of the years. Cragganmore sits in Ballindalloch and has since 1869 distilled with short flat-topped pot stills and worm tub condensers, giving a heavier and more layered spirit than the regional average.

Tasting notes

Nose

Heather, honey and dried herbs. Below them sit malt, vanilla and a lightly resinous note from the oak.

Palate

Soft and layered. Sweet malt, honey, apple compote and a touch of smoke, with a dry spiced edge keeping the sweetness in place.

Finish

Long and dry, with malt, nuts and a persistent herbal warmth.

Specifications

Name: Cragganmore 12 years Classic Malts Old Version Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 100 cl 40%
Distillery: Cragganmore
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40 %
Size: 100 CL
Edition: Classic Malts of Scotland Old Version
EAN no.: 5000281003597

Flavour profile

Soft · Malty · Honeyed · Herbal · Lightly Smoked

Investment potential

High. Both the litre measure and the old Classic Malts presentation are discontinued, and complete examples with the carton grow scarcer every year.

Did you know?

The Classic Malts range launched in 1988 and did more than anything else to teach drinkers that Scotch has regions. Before it, single malt was to most people simply something that went into blends.

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Frequently asked questions about Cragganmore 12 years Classic Malts Old Version

Why does it say Highland and not Speyside?

Because Speyside sits geographically within the Highlands, and because the region was only formally recognised much later. Older labels therefore used Highland Malt, even on whisky from the Spey valley.

Does wear on the carton affect the whisky?

No. Cardboard packaging has no influence on the contents. For a collector it can affect value, but it cannot be tasted in the glass.

What made the Classic Malts range special?

It set up six distilleries as representatives of one region each, handing drinkers a map of Scotch whisky. Cragganmore took the Speyside seat.

Why is Cragganmore more complex than other Speyside malts?

It comes down to distillation. Short flat-topped pot stills and worm tub condensers give less copper contact and therefore a heavier spirit with more layers.

Can an old litre bottle still be drunk?

Yes, if the cork is sound and the bottle has been kept dark and upright. Whisky does not change in the bottle the way wine does, though a big drop in level can flatten the flavour.

What is Highland whisky known for?

It is Scotland's largest region and the style runs widely from light and floral to heavy and maritime. See the full spread in our Highland Whisky.