Craigellachie 12 Years Old 2008 Cask #900365/366/367 (Murray McDavid)

A 12 year old Craigellachie from the independent Murray McDavid, distilled in 2008, from cask 900365/366/367, bottled at 50%, one of 1054 bottles. Craigellachie sits above Telford's famous Spey bridge, a Speyside distillery of real muscle. Its malt has long been the muscular heart of the White Horse blend.

The spirit was worked through stills and worm tubs for a muscular, oily spirit, for the muscular, meaty make Craigellachie is known for. A Madeira cask added raisin and a caramelised nuttiness. By the integrating teens the sulphur fades and esters build, pineapple and wax growing over the oily spirit. Refill oak lets the muscular Craigellachie character lead, malt and tropical fruit beneath. It was launched as a single malt brand in 2014, with a bare knuckle, old fashioned image. It was rebuilt in 1965, but kept its worm tubs where most distilleries dropped them.

At a hearty 50% it carries real weight. Tropical fruit, malt and a warm spice, with plum, red berry and chocolate from the cask. The mouthfeel is heavy and oily, the fruit carried on a meaty body. Tropical fruit, malt and a savoury oak see out the finish. This is a meaty, tropical Speyside single malt.