Craigellachie 11 Years Old 2006 Cask #HL 15034 (Old Malt Cask)

A Craigellachie of an 11 year old chosen by the independent Hunter Laing, distilled in 2006, from cask HL 15034, bottled at 50%, one of 717 bottles. Craigellachie is a robust, fruity Speyside single malt from the heart of the region. Bacardi's John Dewar and Sons bought it in 1998, alongside Aberfeldy, Aultmore and Royal Brackla.

Drawn off pot stills cooled by traditional worm tubs, giving the heavy, oily spirit at its heart. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a tropical fruit over the meaty spirit. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the malt, the worm tub weight softening to tropical fruit. The oily spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and tropical fruit over a meaty malt. It keeps its worm tub condensers, an old fashioned set up that builds a heavy, meaty, sulphurous spirit. With age the meaty young spirit turns to pineapple, mango and a waxy depth.

At a hearty 50% it carries real weight. Meaty malt, tropical fruit and a waxy oil, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a savoury, oily depth give it weight. A long, oily finish carries a tropical depth. This is Craigellachie, the meaty heart of White Horse.