About this SPIRIT
Cragganmore Distillery, Speyside
The Cragganmore Distillery was founded by John Smith in 1869. Already a very skilful distiller, he managed the Macallan, Glenlivet and Glenfarclas distilleries, but wanted to build his own, signature Speyside distillery.
Leasing from Sir George Macpherson-Grant a site formerly used by illicit distillers at Ayeon Farm, part of the Ballindalloch Castle estate, Smith chose the place for the quality of the water of the Craggan burn and its proximity to the Strathspey railway. John Smith really liked trains. However, he was often forced to travel in goods wagons, because of his massive size and weight.
Designed by the famous Elgin architect Charles Doig, the new distillery buildings were hewn from granite-like 'greenstone'. This was quarried from the 1600-foot hill of Cragan Mor, from which the distillery name comes.
In 1923 the distillery was acquired by White Horse Distillers, which in turn was taken over by the Distillers Company in 1965. It is now part of Diageo.
About 30% of the production is sold as single malt, the remaining part being used in blends like McCallum's Perfection and White Horse. The single malt is an exceptionally complex spirit, ranging from nuts to toffee, angelica to herbs and mixed peel. Limited releases include the 48-year-old Prima & Ultima, aged in refilled hogsheads.
(Adapted from the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024)
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Description
A complex but wonderfully balanced mix of sweet and dry. Good depth and structure.
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