pkingmartin
Craigellachie 13 Year Armagnac Cask Finish
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed
September 20, 2022 (edited December 27, 2022)
One of the many drams enjoyed during our ( @Richard-ModernDrinking , @ctbeck11 , @PBMichiganWolverine and @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington ) quarterly virtual tasting was this Craigellachie 13 finished in Bas-Armagnac casks that was kindly provided by @Richard-ModernDrinking
The nose starts with a mix of musty grapes, mango, lime and smoking matchstick then hay bales, vanilla cream puff and chocolate covered chewy caramels followed by prunes, tangerine and ruby red grapefruit that transitions to white pepper, cloves and dusty leather-bound books with low ethanol burn.
The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with creamy fruits of musty grapes, mango, pineapple and a mild matchstick smoke then vanilla cream puff, honeysuckle, rosemary and chocolate covered chewy caramels followed by prunes, tangerine and caramelized nectarines that transitions to white pepper, cloves, leather-bound books and light polished oak with medium ethanol burn.
The finish is medium length with musty grapes, creamy tropical fruits, light matchstick smoke, white pepper, cloves, and dusty leather-bound books.
Similar to the regular 13, the nose is fairly restrained but with time the flavors began to emerge with light musty grapes leading underscored by tropical fruits and mild sulfur smoke along with creamy sweets, slightly sour fruits and light dusty leather-bound books that carried over to the palate with richer and bolder flavors than on the nose with a light Armagnac presence leading along with creamy sweet tropical fruits underscored by a light sulfuric smoke along with herbs, creamy sweets, caramelized citrus fruits and light dusty leather-bound books that finished medium length with musty grapes upfront before creamy fruits which fade into mild sulfur, spices and light dusty leather-bound books.
Another delightful release from Craigellachie that the Armagnac influence is very restrained which adds light musty grapes and leather-bound books to the regular 13-year-old profile.
In a side by side with the regular vs the Armagnac finish, I’d say they are extremely close, but the Armagnac manages to edge out the regular for me with those musty and old book notes.
At a price between $65-70, I think this is well worth the cost.
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@PBMichiganWolverine Yeah, I was surprised by the price on this one. Definitely a great VFM choice in today’s overpriced market.
That price made it a gotta buy VFM decision for me—- got a bottle next day.