Cragganmore – 12 Year Old (75cl, 40%)

Cragganmore 12 Year Old is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky, matured for twelve years in refill bourbon casks and bottled at 40% in a 75cl bottle. The distillery was founded in 1869 by John Smith on the River Spey. It uses flat-topped spirit stills rather than the swan necks found at most Scottish distilleries, along with worm tub condensers. The nose is floral, with heather, sage and rosemary, then honey, vanilla and peanut brittle. The palate is malty and medium-bodied, with hazelnuts, dark chocolate, lavender, sandalwood, citrus peel and a thread of sweet wood smoke. The finish is medium, with toasted oak, almonds, light smoke and vanilla.