The History Of Cragganmore

1869

The distillery is founded by John Smith, thought to be the most experienced distiller of his day. A former manager of Macallan, Glenlivet and Wishaw distilleries, and leaseholder of Glenfarclas distillery – he persuades his landlord, Sir George Macpherson-Grant, to lease him the land to build a new distillery at Ballindalloch beside the Strathspey railway line.

1887

The first 'whisky special' leaves Ballindalloch Station for Aberdeen, it's 25 wagons carrying 300 casks of Cragganmore.

1901

Cragganmore is rebuilt.

1912

Gordon Smith dies young and his widow Mary Jane takes over the running of the distillery.

1917

Production is suspended during wartime.

1919

The distillery reopens. Mrs Smith installs electric lighting powered by a Kohler petrol-driven generator.

1923

Mary Jane sells the distillery to White Horse Distillers Ltd. They rate the whisky A1.

1925

A new warehouse is erected, where 360,000 gallons of Cragganmore can be aged.

1941

The Second World War halts production due to barley shortages.

1961

The coal fired stills are converted to a mechanical stoking system.

1964

Capacity increases as the number of stills is doubled to four.

1972

All four stills are converted to steam heating from an oil fired boiler.