Craigellachie 13 Years Old 2009 Cask #4868 (Connoisseurs Choice)

A 13 year old Craigellachie from the Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail, distilled in 2009, from cask 4868, bottled at 55.3%, one of 190 bottles. Craigellachie sits above Telford's famous Spey bridge, a Speyside distillery of real muscle. Bacardi's John Dewar and Sons bought it in 1998, alongside Aberfeldy, Aultmore and Royal Brackla.

It was worked through stills and worm tubs for a muscular, oily spirit, for a bold, meaty Speyside spirit. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the meaty character to the fore. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper, tropical fruit over the meaty malt. The heavy, oily make is prized by blenders for the backbone it gives White Horse. The meaty, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its robust, worm tub weight. The oily spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and tropical fruit over a meaty malt.

At a natural 55.3% it is full and honeyed. Mango, wax and a meaty depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a savoury, oily depth give it weight. The finish is long, oily and savoury. This is Craigellachie, the meaty heart of White Horse.