Cragganmore The Distillers Edition 14 Years Old 1998

This official Cragganmore, a 14 year old, from 1998, cask CggD-6564, at 40%. Cragganmore was built in 1869 beside the Strathspey Railway, a Speyside malt of real depth. The distillery was founded in 1869 by John Smith, the most experienced distiller of his day, who had run Macallan, Glenlivet and Glenfarclas.

Worked through flat topped stills and worm tubs for a meaty, fragrant spirit, for the complex, fragrant make Cragganmore is known for. 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. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the fragrant, savoury core over the years. The Distillers Edition is finished in Port wood, the house double matured expression. Worm tubs gave the new spirit its weight, the cask then drawing out fruit and depth.

At 40% it is smooth and honeyed. A rich, complex maltiness, with plum, red berry and chocolate from the cask. Dried fruit, malt and a herbal spice fill the middle. The finish is deep, fragrant and savoury. This is a complex, malty Speyside single malt.