Cragganmore The Distillers Edition 12 Years Old 2008

Cragganmore from the distillery, a 12 year old, from 2008, cask CggD-6572, at 40%. Cragganmore is a fragrant, malty Speyside single malt from the foot of Craggan More hill. Most of its make goes to blending, with a twelve year old the flagship single malt.

Drawn off flat topped stills cooled by worm tubs, building the distinctive Cragganmore style. A Port cask finish wrapped the malt in plum and red berry, the Distillers Edition style. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the savoury body fuller and deeper. Worm tubs gave the new spirit its weight, the cask then drawing out fruit and depth. Refill oak lets the complex Cragganmore character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath. Worm tub condensers give the spirit a meaty weight, balanced by the reflux of the flat topped stills. It was chosen in 1988 as the Speyside member of Diageo's original Classic Malts.

At an approachable 40% it is soft and easy. Apple, dried fruit and a meaty edge, with plum, red berry and chocolate from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, malt and a savoury edge. The close is long, fruit over a complex malt. This is Cragganmore's fragrant, meaty Speyside style.