Cragganmore Distillers Edition - 2022 Collection / 70cl

Founded in 1869, Cragganmore was built at a time when no new distilleries had risen on Speyside, for twenty years. It was the brainchild of whisky legend John Smith. His timing was good; this was the first distillery purpose-built to take advantage of railway transport and could easily take its whisky to market. The stills, unique in Scotland, were and are flat-topped - a Smith design to encourage reflux. Only the lighter, more subtle vapours pass through the lye pipe to be condensed in the traditional worm tubs outside, leaving the spirit clean, serious and complex. The regular release of CRAGGANMORE is highly praised by experts and deserves to be far better known.

• Nose - Mellow in feel, and complex. Immediately sweetly, winey and fruity, then dense and more mysterious, with a wisp of smoke later on.
• Body - Light to medium.
• Palate - Firm and lightly oily in texture, sweet to start and soft at first on the palate, with juicy hints of wine and fruit. The sweetness is nicely balanced by light wood-spice and a smoky undertone.
• Finish - Medium length, tingling and drying, while still appetisingly spicy, the oakiness hinting at vanilla and finally, cocoa.