Cragganmore was founded in 1869 by John Smith, a former manager at both Macallan and Glenlivet, at Ballindalloch in the heart of Speyside, chosen partly because it became the first distillery in the region with its own railway siding. Its unusual flat-topped spirit stills, unlike anything else built before or since, restrict vapour flow to create a controlled reflux that lets through only the lightest, most fragrant fractions while still retaining a surprising amount of heavier character, a signature Diageo describes as producing a “sweet and complex” base spirit. Selected in 1989 to represent Speyside in Diageo’s Classic Malts series and believed to be a principal component of Johnnie Walker Black Label, the 12 Year Old matures primarily in refill American oak bourbon casks.
CHARACTER
Orange Peel: candied orange and orange oil open the nose
Honey: heather honey on the nose, honey and oat biscuits on the palate
Vanilla: vanilla fudge on the nose and palate
Green Apple: a crisp green apple acidity on the palate
Almond: roasted almonds on the nose, bitter almonds building on the palate and finish
Smoke: a faint, gentle wisp of peat smoke
TASTING NOTES
NOSE- Orange oil and lemon zest opening into lavender and heather honey, vanilla and malty cereal, with a faint wisp of peat smoke.
PALATE- Honey and oat biscuits giving way to crisp green apple, soft toffee and vanilla, with roasted almonds and a building white pepper spice.
FINISH- Medium length, malty and clean, grapefruit zest and toasted oak with a faint ashy smokiness.
