Bottles labelled as ‘Ballindalloch’ are often historically associated with being produced at Glenfarclas – the moniker used infrequently by independent bottlers over the past 20 years. Future labels of this ilk are now much less likely to be utilised with Ballindalloch Single Estate Distillery based in the grounds of the castle (of the same name) now up and running – though patiently waiting a fair few more years (at least until 2022) before any bottling will take place. However, not all Ballindallochs can be attributed to the family-owned Speyside distillery – including today’s example.
Cragganmore distillery has several distinctive features which mark it out against many other Speyside facilities – worm tubs, the use of lightly peated barley and spirit still which are both small and particularly flat (and also end up in worms). Cragganmore’s spirit stills are the only pair of its type in Scotland and are often singled out as responsible for the distinctive style of the whisky the distillery produces.
A 14 year old Cragganmore that has been matured for 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before being finished in a 1st fill ex-PX hogshead. Spicy & Dry profile.
Interesting cask choices for this Cragganmore – 12 years in ex-bourbon and 2 years finishing in a new oak hogshead. View on SMWS
15 year old Cragganmore that’s spent 15 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before being re-racked into a 2nd fill charred red wine barrique. View on SMWS
13 years in ex-bourbon and then 2 more years in 1st fill PX for this Cragganmore. Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits profile.
Cragganmore distillery was founded in 1869 by John Smith in the village of Ballindalloch in Banffshire. The whisky is lightly peated and is produced from a unique array of four stills. The two wash stills are particularly large and possess very steeply angled lyne arms – the two spirit stills are rather small with long, gently angled lyne arms – all four arms descend into wormtubs. It is the configuration of the spirit stills and their arms, which greatly contribute to the overall complexity of the Cragganmore spirit.
This Cragganmore has spent 14 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead and then been reracked into a 1st fill madeira hogshead for a period of finishing. Sweet, Fruity & Mellow profile.
Teenage Cragganmore that’s been matured in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead for 16 year old
16 years in ex-bourbon for this Cragganmore – then a finish in a 1st fill charred red wine barrique
This Cragganmore has been matured in a bourbon hogshead for 15 years and then re-racked into a 1st fill oloroso hogshead for an additional 2 years.
Three-decades of maturation for this 1987 Cragganmore. The outturn lists this as a 1st fill ex-Pedro Ximenez hogshead, but I’m fairly certain that there’s been some (considerable) period of ex-bourbon maturation prior to this. Old & Dignified profile.