Cragganmore is a Scotch whisky

Scotch whisky

Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky , Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky.All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three...

 distillery situated in the village of Ballindalloch

Ballindalloch

Ballindalloch is a small village on the River Spey in Scotland.It is known for its whisky distilleries and for Ballindalloch Castle.-See also:*Glenfarclas Single Malt*Tomintoul...

 in Banffshire

Banffshire

The County of Banff is a registration county for property, and Banffshire is a Lieutenancy area of Scotland.The County of Banff, also known as Banffshire, was a local government county of Scotland with its own county council between 1890 and 1975. The county town was Banff although the largest...

 in Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

.

The distillery was founded in 1869 by John Smith on land leased from Sir George Macpherson-Grant

Sir George Macpherson-Grant, 3rd Baronet

Sir George Macpherson-Grant, 3rd Baronet was a Scottish landowner, cattle breeder and Liberal politician.Macpherson-Grant was the son of Sir John Macpherson-Grant, 2nd Baronet of Ballindalloch and his wife Marion Helen Campbell, daughter of Mungo Nutter Campbell...

. The site was chosen by Smith both for its proximity to the waters of the Craggan burn and because it was close to the Strathspey Railway. Smith was an experienced distiller, having already been manager of the Macallan, Glenlivet

Glenlivet

Glenlivet is the glen in the Scottish Highlands through which the River Livet flows.The river rises high in the Ladder Hills. It flows gently down through the village of Tomnavoulin and onto the Bridgend of Glenlivet, flowing under the ancient packhorse bridge before emptying into the River Avon,...

, Glenfarclas

Glenfarclas Single Malt

Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky produced at the Glenfarclas Distillery in Ballindalloch, Scotland. Glenfarclas translates as meaning valley of the green grass. The distillery is owned and run by the Grant family...

 and Wishaw

Wishaw

Wishaw is a large town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is on the edge of the Clyde Valley, 15 miles south-east of Glasgow....

 distilleries.

The Strathspey Railway is now disused and forms the Speyside Way

Speyside Way

The Speyside Way is a Long Distance Route that follows the River Spey through some of Banffshire, Morayshire and Inverness-shire's most beautiful scenery. It is one of four Long Distance Routes in Scotland. It begins in Aviemore and ends at Buckpool harbour in Buckie, some 65 miles away...

 long-distance walking route.

Cragganmore is marketed by United Distillers

United Distillers

United Distillers was a Scottish company formed in 1987 from combining the businesses of Distillers Company and Arthur Bell & Sons, both owned by Guinness. The company owned six Scotch whisky brands, which were relaunched as the Classic Malts range...

 under their Classic Malts

Classic Malts of Scotland

The Classic Malts of Scotland is a selection of six single malt whiskies, launched and marketed together in 1988 by United Distillers and Vintners which is now owned by Diageo. They are often displayed together in bars and liquor stores, and the marketing has proved quite successful...

 brand.

The Whisky

The stills

Pot still

A pot still is a type of still used in distilling spirits such as whisky or brandy. Heat is applied directly to the pot containing the wash or wine . This is called a batch distillation ....

 used in the second distillation (the spirit still) of Cragganmore whisky are unique in having a flat top and being relatively short. The stills' shape has a definite effect on the taste and aroma (nose) of the whisky.

Shane Healy is the current master distiller.

Reactions to Cragganmore Whiskies

The San Francisco World Spirits competition has reacted favorably to the Cragganmore 10-year (Sherry Cask) and 12-year expressions, awarding the former with a double gold medal in 2005 and the latter with two double gold, one gold and three silver medals between 2005 and 2010. Wine Enthusiast, another spirit ratings

Spirit ratings

With a growing number of microdistilleries and an expanding number of offerings from large corporate entities, a number of institutions have arisen to provide professional evaluations of individual spirits...

organization, rated the 12-year in its 90-95 point interval and the 10-year Sherry Cask in its 96-100 point interval.