Craigellachie 13 Years Old 2008 Cask #7529513 (Duncan Taylor)

The Huntly bottler Duncan Taylor bottled this Craigellachie, a 13 year old, distilled in 2008, from cask 7529513, bottled at 53.7%, one of 65 bottles. Craigellachie was founded in 1891 by a consortium led by Peter Mackie of White Horse fame. It was rebuilt in 1965, but kept its worm tubs where most distilleries dropped them.

Worked through stills and worm tubs for a muscular, oily spirit, for the muscular, meaty make Craigellachie is known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and pineapple beneath the muscular malt. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the robust body turning fruitier. Long ageing turns the young, sulphurous spirit towards mango, wax and a warm spice. Most of its make still goes to blending, a robust filler prized for its weight. Years in oak round the spirit, the worm tub weight turning to pineapple and wax. Its malt has long been the muscular heart of the White Horse blend.

At its natural 53.7% it is concentrated. Tropical fruit, malt and a warm spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. The finish is long, oily and savoury. This is the worm tub malt of Craigellachie.