Craigellachie - 12 yo - Oloroso Sherry Octave Finish #40+41 (The Whiskey Cellar)

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 55.1% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Two fresh Oloroso sherry Octaves shape this Private Cellars Selection release. The Whisky Cellar married twelve-year-old Craigellachie from casks #40 and #41. These small casks have a greater internal wood surface area relative to their liquid volume than conventional cask sizes, increasing the influence of the wood. The release comprises 206 bottles. The whisky was bottled at its cask strength of 55.1%, without added colouring or chill filtration.

Craigellachie's robust character remains evident beneath the pronounced sherry influence: savoury hints of beef broth and meat juices complement the fruity sweetness and dark chocolate. Honey, butterscotch and Christmas fruitcake broaden the flavour spectrum. Trying the whisky with a few drops of water can reveal further aromatic nuances.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, fragrant baked apple and warm raspberries mingle with cocoa powder and syrup.
• Palate: The whisky is full-bodied and intense on the palate. Juicy damsons and plum jam meet poached pear and dark chocolate, with nutmeg and toffee complementing the fruit notes.
• Finish: Juicy plums, gentle spice and syrupy toffee linger on the long finish. The finish is warming, with a subtle oak note alongside lingering sweetness.

Distillery/Bottler:

Craigellachie lies in the heart of Speyside, above the confluence of the Fiddich and Spey rivers. The distillery was built in 1890 to designs by Charles Doig and began production in 1891. It has belonged to Bacardi since 1998 and is run by John Dewar & Sons. It continues to use traditional worm tubs for condensation: long copper pipes sit in tanks filled with cold water, cooling the distillation vapour into liquid. This method contributes to its distinctive, meaty house character.

The Whisky Cellar is an independent bottler based in Edinburgh, founded by Keith Bonnington. For cask selection, he works with a panel of experienced tasters that includes whisky maker Max Macfarlane. A parcel's flavour profile determines its selection, rather than a prescribed region, age or cask type. For this release, The Whisky Cellar selected the two Oloroso Octaves and married their contents before bottling.

Facts: