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Cragganmore Special release 2016

malty fresh
4.5
(1)€469Scotland, Speyside, Single Malt

Flavours

Whisky character

Fresh
Warm
Mild
Full
Smooth
Spicy

Taste mentions

Facts

John Smith built Cragganmore in 1869 beside the Strathspey Railway, shipping the first 'whisky special' train in 1887. He fitted flat-topped stills rather than the usual swan necks, an odd shape that still shapes the spirit today. This Special release 2016 rests in refill sherry casks at cask strength, bottled without chill filtration. Apple and dried apricot open the glass, followed by orange zest and a peppery spice that lingers. Underneath sits a savoury, malty note that separates it from the typical honeyed Speyside style. Drink it neat, in small sips, and let the fruit and spice unfold slowly.

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About the distillery

Distillery

Cragganmore

Cragganmore distillery is located in the Speyside region of Scotland, and it was founded in 1869 by John Smith. The distillery sits in a small valley beside the Craggan More Hill, which is where its name comes from. Cragganmor whisky is often described as having a rich and complex flavour profile. This is due to the distillery's use of unusually shaped stills, which have a flat top and a flat base, and a long neck that increases the amount of copper contact during distillation. Cragganmore was the first distillery to be built in the Speyside region after the Excise Act of 1823 legalized whisky distillation. The distillery is also one of the few in Scotland to have retained its own floor maltings, which is where the barley is germinated before being used in the whisky-making process. Cragganmore produces a range of single malt whiskies, including a 12-year-old, a 20-year-old, and a Distillers Edition, which is finished in port casks. The 12-year-old is the most widely available expression, and it is often praised for its balance of sweetness and smokiness.

4.1Average rating

19Whiskies on Distilld

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Speyside

Most popular whiskies from Cragganmore

About the Cragganmore Special release 2016

Cragganmore Special release 2016 is a single malt Scotch whisky from Speyside, Scotland, bottled at cask strength. Cragganmore distillery matures this expression in refill sherry casks, giving it a deeper, richer profile. That is richer than Cragganmore's standard 12 Year Old bottling. At 55.7% ABV and without chill filtration, the spirit keeps its full weight in the glass. Apple and dried apricot arrive first, sweet and slightly waxy. Orange zest and warm spice follow, with dried fruit underneath. John Smith built Cragganmore distillery in 1869 beside the Strathspey Railway in Ballindalloch. He chose the site so casks could travel straight from the warehouse onto the train. Smith also fitted flat-topped stills instead of the tall, swan-necked shape used almost everywhere else in Speyside. That odd, cereal-box shape restricts vapour flow and concentrates copper contact. Paired with old-style worm tub condensers, it gives Cragganmore a savoury, almost meaty depth beneath the fruit. It is one reason Diageo chose Cragganmore as the Speyside representative in its Classic Malts range. On the palate, Cragganmore Special release 2016 turns fresh and floral before the fruit takes over. Ripe orange sits alongside the apple and dried apricot, with fresh fruit brightness cutting through the cask strength. A malty backbone runs underneath, keeping the whisky grounded rather than purely sweet. The refill sherry cask adds gentle spice and dried fruit depth without overpowering the fruit. Each sip changes slightly, moving from bright citrus to a warmer, spiced finish. Enjoy Cragganmore Special release 2016 neat, in a proper glass, with time to breathe. Its cask strength means the flavours stay bold rather than muted. Fans of the standard Cragganmore malt will notice the sherry cask influence straight away. This is a limited, numbered release, part of Diageo's 2016 Special Releases collection. It suits anyone who wants Speyside whisky at full strength. See why Cragganmore earned its place among Scotland's classic malts.