Craigellachie 13 Year

A bit spicy, fruit like apple, slightly malty sweet. Stronger in alcohol sensation than expected, smooth texture.

Bottled in 2015. This is one of my favorite widely available standard release single malts of all time. Not many people will share the same opinion because it can be difficult to appreciate this whisky because it’s ugly on the outside, but beautiful within. If you need either the pleasant simple sweetness of a Balvenie or the rich barbeque smoke of a Lagavulin in all of your whiskies, then Craigellachie is probably not for you. The distinguishing character of Craigellachie is sulfur, which is intentional and embraced, even more so than with Springbank. The sulfur is that of a tinderbox and some very, very dry-aged meat. Other than that, Craigellachie is hard to describe other than admitting that it is indeed very complex. The labeling suggests Craigellachie is “anything but smooth” and “rivals whiskies twice its age.” So, if you fancy a feisty little old lady carrying around a tinderbox to smoke some unsauced bone-dry meats, then Craigellachie is probably for you. This 13 year old is actually one of my favorite expressions, and certainly the only official release that offers value for money (older Craigellachies are rather hard to find and prohibitively expensive). There is little to no sherry influence here, and the whisky needs none. There are some light, floral, and fruity elements with apples and oranges, but there is definitely an interesting taint to these familiar flavors. Imagine a man named Glenfiddich smoking some peyote. The light fruitiness is warped by the earthy sulfury smoke of Craigellachie, and it starts to even be reminiscent of tequila and mezcal. My only complaint is the wood has influenced this beautiful spirit too much. All of the releases from Craigellachie have prime number age statements, and an 11 year old Craigellachie in a spent bourbon cask would be perfect. The spirit has enough bombast to do without needing the bombast of some active American oak. Score: ** (unimaginably good) How much does a bottle cost?: $50-70 How much do I think a bottle is worth?: $95

Beautiful thick legs on this baby. Dark honey color. The nose is salted butterscotch, toffee/molasses, and sherry-wine barrel. Peppercorn and white oak. Mild white plastic. A touch of mint leaf, and more than just a hint of lemon zest, which really ramps up at the tail end. There is a burn right at the beginning, with some fusel heat. The taste is more salty butterscotch, but heavy on the "butter;" almost has a heavy cream component. This dovetails into a second wave of vanilla creme, like the kind you'd find filling a candy bar or sandwich cookie. Apple skins and a bit of baby puke. There is a little burn, but it is smoothed over by that coffee creamer and lemon drop. If you give this baby a little Kentucky Chew, the peat and smoke bust through like a vapor up through a manhole cover. Spearmint leaf with even a bit of a cooling feel accompanying it. Surprisingly, the finish is tobacco/ashtray, which is unusual given how mild and smooth the taste is. The tobacco leaves a cigar burn in the middle of the palate. Some peppery oak on the tail end. It is by turns smooth at first and challenging at the end, like a cigar that starts off sweet and ends with a smoldering, ashy burn.

Nose - I found a little note of ginger, apple pie, and honey. Maybe just a little egg? Taste - ginger again, pear or apple with a little smoke.

Citrus, light caramel, dried tropical fruit. Peppery on tongue.