Cragganmore 17 Years Old 2003 (SMWS 37.135)

From the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, a 17 year old Cragganmore, distilled in 2003, from cask 37.135, bottled at 58.8%, one of 245 bottles. Cragganmore is the complex, savoury Speyside malt of the Classic Malts range. It was chosen in 1988 as the Speyside member of Diageo's original Classic Malts.

It was distilled for the complex, fragrant spirit Cragganmore is known for, building the distinctive Cragganmore style. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the meaty, malty spirit. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (apple and dried fruit) over the meaty, malty depth. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit over a savoury malt. Water comes from the Craggan Burn, off the slopes of Craggan More hill. Most of its make goes to blending, with a twelve year old the flagship single malt.

At a natural 58.8% it is full and honeyed. A complex, malty fruitiness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft orchard fruit and a savoury malt sit behind the cask. A full, malty finish ends on dried fruit and a warm spice. This is a fragrant Speyside single malt of real depth.