Cragganmore 12 yr Whiskey 750ml

Cragganmore distillery was built in 1869 in Speyside to supply spirit for shipping along the newly built Strathspey railway line, and it draws its water from the hard-running Craggan Burn. Now owned by Diageo, the distillery was selected in 1988 as the Speyside representative in the original Classic Malts range, a lineup created to showcase the diversity of Scotland's whisky regions, though much of Cragganmore's output still goes into blends such as Old Parr.

The distillery's character comes almost entirely from its stillhouse. Its spirit stills are unusually flat-topped and run quickly, restricting vapor flow in a way that lets through only the lightest, most fragrant fractions while still retaining unusually heavy compounds, and the spirit is then condensed using traditional worm tubs rather than modern equipment. This combination gives the new-make a distinctive tension between floral lightness and a savory, almost meaty weight. After twelve years in ex-bourbon casks, that tension softens into something balanced and layered. It is bottled at 40% ABV.

The nose offers black currant leaf, hawthorn, and honey, with a floral, hedgerow-like complexity. On the palate, malt and barley sugar meet hazelnut, dark berries, and a light bitterness reminiscent of clove and nutmeg. The finish carries oak tannin and a whisper of smoke.