Cragganmore The Distillers Edition 13 Years Old 1998

A 13 year old Cragganmore, a distillery bottling, from 1998, cask CggD-6563, at 40%. Cragganmore, on the River Spey at Ballindalloch, is the heart malt of the Old Parr blend. The Distillers Edition is finished in Port wood, the house double matured expression.

It was worked through flat topped stills and worm tubs for a meaty, fragrant spirit, giving the meaty, malty spirit at its heart. A Port pipe laid red fruit and a chocolate note over the complex malt. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper orchard fruit over the meaty malt. A Port wood finish, the Distillers Edition style, adds plum and dark berry to the malt. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the meaty malt. The distillery sits at Ballindalloch on the River Spey, in the heart of Speyside.

Reduced to 40%, it is mellow. Dried fruit, malt and a savoury, fragrant depth, with plum, red berry and chocolate from the cask. It is fragrant and savoury, the complex spirit shining through. The finish runs fragrant, meaty and warm. This is the savoury, complex malt of Ballindalloch.