Craigellachie 2009/2023 - 13 yo - French Wine Cask Finish - Murray McDavid

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 58.3% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

A Bordeaux wine finish defines this single-cask release from Murray McDavid’s Benchmark range. Distilled in 2009, the Craigellachie first matured in a sherry hogshead, then spent the last five of its 13 years in a barrique previously used for Bordeaux red wine. The fruit character of the wine finish sits alongside the single malt’s malty character.

Murray McDavid bottled the whisky from cask 170484 in 2023, yielding 280 bottles of 0.7 litres each. It has natural colour, has not been chill-filtered and is presented at a cask strength of 58.3% with gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, blackberries, cranberries and grapes mingle with honey and malt, with touches of wood and coffee alongside the fruit.
• Palate: The whisky feels full-bodied and creamy on the palate. Chocolate pralines and red grapes meet baking spices and floral notes; over time, it becomes spicier and slightly dry.
• Finish: The finish is oily and malty, with spicy oak and delicately bitter cocoa.

Distillery/Bottler:

Craigellachie stands in Speyside between Rothes and Dufftown. The distillery began production in 1891. It still uses traditional worm tubs to cool the vapour after distillation: the vapour condenses inside a long copper pipe running through cold water. This method contributes to the robust character of its spirit.

Murray McDavid was founded in 1994 by Mark Reynier, Simon Coughlin and Gordon Wright as an independent bottler. Selecting whiskies and maturing them further in distinctive casks, including wine casks, are central to its approach. Today, Murray McDavid is a trading name of Aceo Limited and operates at the former Coleburn Distillery site in Speyside. For this release, the bottler oversaw the red-wine finish and bottling.

Facts: