Cragganmore The Distillers Edition 13 Years Old 2001

This official Cragganmore, a 13 year old, from 2001, cask CggD-6566, at 40%. Cragganmore was founded in 1869 by the master distiller John Smith, the first distillery built to use the railway. John Smith reputedly weighed over twenty stone and could not use the railway he loved, too large for the carriages.

It was worked through flat topped stills and worm tubs for a meaty, fragrant spirit, giving the meaty, malty spirit at its heart. 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. Refill oak lets the complex Cragganmore character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath. It was chosen in 1988 as the Speyside member of Diageo's original Classic Malts. The Distillers Edition is finished in Port wood, the house double matured expression.

At 40% it is clean and soft. A complex, malty fruitiness, with plum, red berry and chocolate from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, malt and a savoury edge. A long, fragrant finish carries a savoury depth. This is a fragrant, dried fruit rich Speyside single malt.