Cragganmore distillery

Cragganmore distillery stands beside the Craggan burn in Ballindalloch, a quiet village in Moray. Founded in 1869 by John Smith, it sits on land once leased from Sir George Macpherson-Grant. Smith chose the spot for its clean water and the nearby Strathspey Railway, now part of the Speyside Way walking route. The distillery passed from John’s brother George to his son Gordon, then to Mary Jane Gordon after his death. In 1923 the Macpherson-Grant family kept half ownership until 1965, while Peter Mackie from White Horse held the rest. Today it belongs to Diageo, marketed under the Classic Malts brand. Cragganmore’s whiskies have won awards from the San Francisco World Spirits competition. The 10-year-old Sherry Cask took a double gold medal in 2005, and the 12-year-old received two double golds, one gold and three silvers between 2005 and 2012. Wine Enthusiast rated the 12-year-old in the 90–95 point range and the 10-year Sherry Cask in the 96–100 bracket. The distillery’s spirit stills have flat tops and are unusually short, shaping the whisky’s aroma and flavour. Laura Vernon now serves as master distiller. Visitors find a working distillery with traditional stills and the gentle sound of the Craggan burn. The Speyside Way passes nearby, offering walks through Speyside’s rolling countryside. Ballindalloch village itself is small and peaceful, with views of the River Spey close by. The distillery’s buildings reflect its long history, from the 19th-century foundations to later Diageo ownership. Guests can see the unique stills and hear how shape affects taste. The surrounding landscape of barley fields and wooded hills completes the visit.