Cragganmore Diageo Special Releases 2003 29 Years Old 1973

Cragganmore from the distillery, a 29 year old, from 1973, at 52.5%, 6000 bottles in all. Cragganmore, on the River Spey at Ballindalloch, is the heart malt of the Old Parr blend. Its malt has long been the heart of the Old Parr and McCallum's blends.

Made in copper stills whose flat tops build a complex make, for the complex, fragrant make Cragganmore is known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla beneath the savoury, malty character. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend a drying structure while oxidation builds a richer, meatier fruit. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and fruit over a savoury malt. The distillery sits at Ballindalloch on the River Spey, in the heart of Speyside. Most of its make goes to blending, with a twelve year old the flagship single malt. Long ageing turns the fresh fruit towards dried fruit, fig, leather and a warm spice.

At cask strength 52.5% it is full bodied. A complex, malty fruitiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Dried fruit, malt and a herbal spice fill the middle. The finish is long, complex and savoury. This is Cragganmore, the heart of Old Parr.