Cragganmore 1989 W-F (Whisky-Fässle (W-F))

This Cragganmore was bottled by the bottler Whisky-Fässle (W-F), a 27 year old, distilled in 1989, bottled at 48.7%. Cragganmore is a Diageo Speyside distillery whose flat topped stills give a famously complex spirit. Water comes from the Craggan Burn, off the slopes of Craggan More hill.

Worked through flat topped stills and worm tubs for a meaty, fragrant spirit, for the complex, fragrant make Cragganmore is known for. A sherry cask wrapped the complex spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Through the evaporative decades the spirit concentrates, esters folding into dried fruit, leather and a warm spice. Most Cragganmore goes quietly into blends like Old Parr, a little kept as single malt. Cragganmore is reckoned among the most complex of all the Speyside malts. Long ageing turns the fresh fruit towards dried fruit, fig, leather and a warm spice.

At cask strength 48.7% it is full bodied. Orchard fruit, malt and a warm spice, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft orchard fruit and a savoury malt sit behind the cask. The finish runs fragrant, meaty and warm. This is a fragrant Speyside single malt of real depth.