Craigellachie 13 Year

Craigellachie is a large distillery, but most of its production is used in Dewar’s blended whisky. It’s only since 2014 that we are able to get our hands on Craigellachie as a single malt, and there are not very many options available. This one is a part of Craigellachie’s younger range, with an odd age statement - 13 years. It’s from the Speyside, but don’t let this fool you, it has little to do with the “typical” Speyside character. Craigellachie uses worm tubs to increase the contact of the spirit with the copper, and it does reflect in the distinctive character of this dram. The color is solid gold, but there is no statement on the bottle or carton regarding natural color. In my opinion it is a bit too dark for a 13 year old, particularly since it has been matured in refill American oak casks. The viscosity is pretty high, what you would expect from a 46% ABV dram, and this whisky is non-chill-filtered (thank you Bacardi for thinking about the enthusiasts, we appreciate it!) The nose is youthful, somewhat acidic, a bit pungent with a subtle sulphur note. There’s a touch of smokiness on the back, kind of like a burned match. The palate is very interesting. It starts with a touch of sweetness, but quickly becomes more umami with a meaty character and grass overtones. The sulphur is still there, I wonder if it will go away as this oxidizes in the bottle. There are some citrus notes as well, orange, banana, a touch of honey. The finish is a bit dry, with light smoky aftertones, some light oak bitterness, and perhaps a touch of raisins. Quite interesting overall, and very distinct from other Speyside malts I’ve had. A touch of water brings a bit more fruit notes to the front and the finish becomes a bit sweeter, but the overall character remains, and sharpness does not disappear. Despite this being bottled at 46% ABV, I’m not sure if I like adding water to this dram. Would probably keep it “original” next time. Overall, this is a complex and very unusual dram. This is definitely not for a whisky beginner, but enthusiasts can find this very interesting. From its character, I bet it would change quite a bit from just sitting in the bottle, which makes it for an even more interesting experience.

Strong alcohol taste at first, but settles out to a smooth, sweet finish

Sweet up front with a smokey finish

Nose: Slightly ripe strawberries, sour cream, honey and sweet heather, a touch of sweet peat, mixed baked apples with cinnamon, peaches with a touch of sweet cream, residual smoke from an extinguished bonfire, eau de cologne and Bartlett pear, some plain but fresh cereal, a touch of sea brine, a touch of barley sugar, a hint of road tar, tart white cranberries, some dark chocolate, a touch of sweet oakiness in the background, chocolate orange, green celery stalks and fresh anice, old caramel, fresh underripe tangerine, old cut grass, orange candies, a touch of toffee, iodine, smoky bacon and pancetta, cream soda, fresh soil, tropical fruits (pineapples, mango, papaya), burnt rubber, old coffee grounds, some fresh and tart lemon rind Palate: Sweet peat, barley sugar, sunscreen, lemon pith, candied lime, orange candies, bitter herbs, lemongrass, parsley, green apple peel, bonfire smoke, oatmeal with dried tart cranberries, smoked bacon, dried caramel, bitter oak tannins, grapefruit peel Finish: Citrus peels (lemon, lime, grapefruit), a touch of peat smoke, orange candies, bitter herbs, wood sugars, fresh lemonade, caramel covered green apple

Neat. Sample. First time trying a Craigellachie. Initial impression is a standard, crisp single malt. There is a sweetness and tart aspect to the nose. Maybe vanilla and tart dark cherries. There is an interesting pepper here too. Not black pepper. I’m going to go with chili pepper. Light and fluffy texture. Vanilla and sweetness take over upfront. That chili pepper spice hits mid palate but it gives way right back to the vanilla and sweetness. Just nice and crisp. That dark cherry tartness is developing in the back end the more I sip it. Ooo there is a nice saltiness emerging and complimenting the sweetness too. I really like the sweetness on this one. It’s very inviting and relaxing but also a treat. I’m going to keep an eye out for this in the future.