pkingmartin
Craigellachie 23 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed
September 22, 2022 (edited September 25, 2022)
To finish off my exploration through some of the Craigellachie releases is a sample of their 23 year that @ctbeck11 was generous to provide.
The nose starts with a mix of mango, flambéed bananas, charred pineapple, and freshly lit pipe tobacco then hay bales, vanilla cream puff, candied pecans and chocolate covered chewy caramels followed by sautéed apples, mandarin orange and watermelon hard candy that transitions to white pepper, cloves, leather and polished antique furniture with low ethanol burn.
The taste is a rich and oily mouthfeel starting with creamy fruits of mango, flambéed bananas, charred pineapple and freshly lit pipe tobacco then chocolate covered toasted marshmallow, honeysuckle, rosemary and butterscotch caramels followed by pear tarte, mandarin oranges and caramelized peaches that transitions to white pepper, cloves, leather and polished antique furniture with medium ethanol burn.
The finish is long with creamy tropical fruits, hay bales, dark chocolate, freshly lit pipe tobacco, rosemary, leather and polished antique furniture.
This is a spectacular dram that all the flavors found on the 17 year have carried over with a mix of creamy rich tropical fruits, farmyard, tobacco, herbs and polished antique furniture that the extra years have polished out any remaining sourness while improving the mouthfeel to be rich and velvety with a long and luscious fruity finish.
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Sounds fantastic
@pkingmartin @PBMichiganWolverine they actually let you hold, read and photo the bottle and packaging. I actually have some photos. We had pours from bottles #6 & #7 (of 51) from case 1940 bottled on 12/22/1962 (actually recorded as 22/12/1962). Agreed very gratuitous of Craigellachie. A top-notch distillery.
@Scott_E @PBMichiganWolverine Ha, I’m sure he really wanted it for bragging rights. The ambassador should have told him that he could pay to hold the bottle while the ambassador takes a picture him holding it. Then let him know there are many places to get a picture printed and framed to hang for bragging rights. I’m glad they opened them and gave the tasting away for free to allow for any enthusiast an opportunity to try something rare and old. Those bottles would likely cost thousands today and most would likely never be opened to enjoy.
@Scott_E @pkingmartin I still remember that annoying guy who kept trying to convince the ambassador to sell him the empty bottle.
@pkingmartin @PBMichiganWolverine it was done very well. It was decided by Craigellachie to share the spirit instead of selling to only those who could afford it, store as a trophy and the “common” folk would never have a chance to experience. They broke us into small groups with a ambassador who gave history of the 51 and the distillery itself. Lastly, no empty bottles were given out and remained with the ambassador for fear of forgery. All in all, a great time in NYC.
@Scott_E @PBMichiganWolverine Wow, that sounds like a hell of an experience!!! I’m a huge fan of everything I’ve tried from them and a 51 year has to be a dream dram.
@PBMichiganWolverine @pkingmartin once in a lifetime. I won a drawing from Craigellachie for a tasting event for the 51. Me and a guest. Amazing. Tasted the 17 and 23 (I believe or the 19). Been a fan since because their entire line is just darn good.
@pkingmartin @Scott_E we were fortunate to try the 51 yr old …just a pour though ( for free )
@PBMichiganWolverine Yikes, I pulled up the prices on the 31 and 33!! Hopefully I am able to locate a sample at a justifiable price of them some day. @Scott_E Thanks and I look forward to reading your thoughts when you get to taste this one.
Outstanding. Huge fan of Craigellachie. I am dying to try the 33 year. I will need to splurge for this one (and maybe the whole line). I was tasting vicariously.
Keep an eye out for a sample of the 31 (one 33…I forget ) from TWE. That was even better
Sounds stellar
One of my favorites as well.