Craigellachie 17 yo

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Bourbon and sherry casks both shape this 17-year-old Craigellachie. The whisky first matures in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. For the subsequent finishing stage, half goes into first-fill sherry casks and half into first-fill bourbon casks. Both cask types therefore also contribute to the second stage of maturation.

Alongside soft, silky notes of exotic fruit, the robust distillery character remains clearly recognisable. Aromatic liquorice provides a spicy counterpoint to vanilla and fruity sweetness. The single malt is bottled at 46%, without chill filtration or added colouring; its colour comes entirely from cask maturation.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, apple crumble, melon and raisins mingle with honey-sweet barley and vanilla ice cream. A delicate smoky note complements the sweet fruit and baked-pastry aromas.
• Palate: The palate opens very sweetly with pineapple and vanilla custard pastries before the whisky’s meaty character emerges. Smoke is more pronounced than on the nose, joined by a little clove and oak.
• Finish: Waxy impressions and smoke linger on the finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Craigellachie lies in the heart of Speyside, above the confluence of the Fiddich and Spey. Alexander Edward and Peter Mackie commissioned the distillery to a design by architect Charles Doig, and production began in 1891. Mackie was already associated with Lagavulin and the White Horse blend. Craigellachie was intended to provide another distinctive malt for blending.

Traditional worm tubs are a defining feature of production. In these condensers, vapour passes through long, coiled copper pipes immersed in cold water and tapering towards the bottom. It condenses back into liquid as it travels through them. Craigellachie retains this demanding-to-maintain cooling system because it supports the spirit’s distinctly savoury, meaty character. For the official single malts, Malt Master Stephanie Macleod selects whiskies from different casks and marries them to create each bottling.

Facts: