Cragganmore The Distillers Edition 13 Years Old 1991

An official release of Cragganmore, a 13 year old, from 1991, cask CggD-6556, at 40%. Cragganmore was founded in 1869 by the master distiller John Smith, the first distillery built to use the railway. 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. Double matured in Port wood, plum and dark berry meeting the meaty spirit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper orchard fruit over the meaty malt. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation, the flat topped stills' complexity deepening. It was chosen in 1988 as the Speyside member of Diageo's original Classic Malts. The meaty, fragrant make rewards a long, patient maturation. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the meaty malt.

Reduced to 40%, it is mellow. A rich, complex maltiness, with plum, red berry and chocolate from the cask. A dried fruit and a malty depth give it weight. The finish runs fragrant, meaty and warm. This is the savoury, complex malt of Ballindalloch.