Cragganmore, Distillery

Cragganmore Distillery was opened in 1869, and is still in use. Sitting in a hollow just south of the River Spey, the distillery comprises white-washed buildings arranged around a courtyard, a design typical of this area.

A number of original nineteeth-century buildings survive, including the maltings, a small kiln and a range of bonded stores. The distillery buildings also include a home farm and a number of single-storeyed cottages built for workers, which were probably constructed in 1901-2, when the distillery changed hands and much of it was rebuilt. Modern automation has required further changes, but an effort has been made to keep the Victorian appearance of the distillery. For example a new, stainless steel mash tun was clad in pine and topped with an old copper dome.

Cragganmore was the first distillery in Strathspey to be built near a railway line, and a special siding was built. The label on recent bottles of its whisky displays a steam train, commemorating the first 'whisky special,' which left Cragganmore in 1887, carrying 16,000 gallons of whisky.

Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project

NJ13NE 22 centred 1633 3640

(Location cited as NJ 164 364). Cragganmore-Ballindalloch Distillery, founded 1869. Parts of the 19th century distillery survive, including the maltings and small kiln, and an attractive range of five bays of single-storey, rubble bonded stores. An interesting feature is the farmsteading operated in conjunction with the distillery.

J R Hume 1977.