Cragganmore distillery was founded in 1869 by John Smith in Ballindalloch, Speyside. Smith was one of the most experienced distillers in Scotland at the time, having previously worked at nearby Glenfarclas and Macallan before seizing the opportunity to establish his own distillery. Cragganmore holds a notable place in Scottish whisky history as the first distillery to take advantage of the railway system for transportation, reflecting Smith's forward-thinking approach to the industry. Nestled on the banks of the River Spey, Cragganmore produces elegant and complex single malts that are considered quintessentially Speyside in character. The distillery's whisky is renowned for its layered, aromatic profile, making it a benchmark expression for the region. The core range includes the celebrated 12 Year Old, which has earned Gold at the Scotch Whisky Masters in both 2010 and 2011, as well as the Distillers Edition, finished in port casks for additional richness and depth. In the late 1980s, Cragganmore was selected by United Distillers — now Diageo — to represent Speyside in their prestigious Classic Malts series, alongside Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Lagavulin, Oban, and Talisker. This distinction cemented Cragganmore's reputation as one of Scotland's most distinguished and representative single malt Scotch whiskies.