Cragganmore The Distillers Edition 12 Years Old 2007

Cragganmore from the distillery, a 12 year old, from 2007, cask CggD-6571, at 40%. Cragganmore is a fragrant, malty Speyside single malt from the foot of Craggan More hill. It was chosen in 1988 as the Speyside member of Diageo's original Classic Malts.

The spirit was worked through flat topped stills and worm tubs for a meaty, fragrant spirit, for a meaty, fragrant make of real depth. A wine cask finish layered red fruit over the fragrant, savoury malt. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the complex, fragrant spirit growing rounder. Most Cragganmore goes quietly into blends like Old Parr, a little kept as single malt. The Distillers Edition is finished in Port wood, the house double matured expression. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to dried fruit and a savoury spice. The distillery sits at Ballindalloch on the River Spey, in the heart of Speyside.

At 40% it is gentle, sweet and fruity. Baked fruit, honey and a savoury depth, with plum, red berry and chocolate from the cask. A dried fruit and a malty depth give it weight. The close is long, fruit over a complex malt. This is Cragganmore's fragrant, meaty Speyside style.