Richard-ModernDrinking
Craigellachie 23 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed
January 15, 2022 (edited January 16, 2022)
This whisky unfurled in surprising ways over the course of a glass, starting dry before yielding more fruity flavors. The nose is initially sandalwood, but hints of peach and nectarine emerge with time. Dry and slightly waxy flavors in the mouth at first reminded me of sucking a dried apricot — there’s no burst of fruit, just the foretaste. The finish, though, is where it really shines, with a long tail of golden sultanas that lingers for an age. It’s all carried by a rich backbone that has a touch of orange and a thick mouthfeel that hints at canned fruit syrup. I greatly enjoyed this whisky. It’s not one for newbies but perfect for the more jaded palette, like a cross between a Clynelish and a well-aged Irish whiskey. Huge thanks to @ctbeck11 for the sample.
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A cross between Clynelish and old Irish - good call 👍
Great review. And agreed, it’s certainly not a beginner whiskey. Craigellachies give me Springbank vibes. Rich, malty funkiness that screams old school distilling and aging techniques.
@Scott_E @Richard-ModernDrinking interesting…all prime numbers. Wonder if the master distiller is superstitious. Oh, never mind…33 isn’t a prime
@Scott_E @PBMichiganWolverine I followed up tonight with samples of three Cadenhead Craigellachie bottlings and the waxy note seems to be as much a part of the distilliate’s DNA as it is in Clynelish. Which is great to discover as it’s one of my favorite whisky flavors.
@PBMichiganWolverine @Richard-ModernDrinking. Agreed, more for seasoned drinkers. After that night, I absolutely love and appreciate craigallachie. The suite from the 13 to the 51: fabulous. Love the fact that it’s all odd year aging: 13, 17, 19, 23, 33, 51 (you get it).
@Richard-ModernDrinking i had these pre-cv19 days with @Scott_E in NYC…you’re right , not for newbies, but personally I loved it