Cragganmore Single Cask Release 43 Years Old 1971

This official Cragganmore, a 43 year old, from 1971, cask 2300, at 47.4%, 474 bottles in all. Cragganmore was founded in 1869 by the master distiller John Smith, the first distillery built to use the railway. Its malt has long been the heart of the Old Parr and McCallum's blends.

Distilled in flat topped stills with worm tub condensers on Craggan Burn water, for a full, complex Speyside spirit. Double matured in Port wood, plum and dark berry meeting the meaty spirit. Ethereal and old, decades draw the malt to a complex, waxy depth of sotolon, old oak and dried fruit. Worm tubs gave the new spirit its weight, the cask then drawing out fruit and depth. The meaty, fragrant make rewards a long, patient maturation. The Distillers Edition is finished in Port wood, the house double matured expression. Refill oak lets the complex Cragganmore character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath.

Bottled at a cask strength 47.4%, it is rich. Malt, dried fruit and a herbal spice, with a clove and dried fruit spice from the cask. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. The finish runs fragrant, meaty and warm. This is the savoury, complex malt of Ballindalloch.