Cragganmore 1990/2021 - 30 yo - #4230549 - Octave Premium (Duncan Taylor)

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 48.5% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

A sherry octave finish adds the final cask influence to this long-matured Cragganmore. Distilled in 1990, the single malt was bottled by Duncan Taylor in 2021 after a total of 30 years for the Premium range of The Octave. Cask 4230549 yielded 89 bottles at a cask strength of 48.5%.

The finishing period in the small octave follows the initial maturation; it does not span the entire three decades. A smaller cask has a greater internal wood surface area relative to the volume of liquid, allowing the wood to exert a stronger influence in less time. The whisky is non-chill-filtered, contains no added colouring and comes in gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose combines meaty and malty impressions with pronounced sherry and Christmas spices. Sugar-coated almonds, dark chocolate truffles and coffee beans add to the bouquet, while delicate floral notes remain in the background.
• Palate: On the palate, dark chocolate and blood orange meet raisins and dates. Fresh oak is distinctly dry, while the sherry sweetness remains restrained. Cinnamon and nutmeg accompany the rich texture.
• Finish: The long, full finish leaves lingering chocolate and bold dried-fruit notes. Toffee and orange complement the sherry-driven aftertaste.

Distillery/Bottler:

John Smith founded Cragganmore in Speyside in 1869. Proximity to the Strathspey Railway was an important factor in choosing the site. The distillery draws its water from the nearby Craggan Burn and uses traditional worm-tub condensers, in which alcohol vapour condenses back into liquid as it passes through a cooled coil.

Duncan Taylor is the independent bottler of this whisky. Founded in 1938 and based in Huntly, the company experimented with finishing both younger and long-matured whiskies in smaller casks. This led to the concept behind the Octave range: initial maturation is followed by a shorter second period in cask. To make these small casks, Duncan Taylor uses materials including staves from former sherry casks from Spain.

Facts: