Craigellachie 11 Years Old 2013 Cask #748 (Riegger’s Selection)

A Craigellachie of an 11 year old chosen by the bottler Riegger's Selection, distilled in 2013, from cask 748, bottled at 58.4%, one of 147 bottles. Craigellachie is a robust, fruity Speyside single malt from the heart of the region. It sits at the village of Craigellachie, where the River Fiddich joins the Spey by Telford's iron bridge.

The spirit was worked through stills and worm tubs for a muscular, oily spirit, building the old fashioned Craigellachie style. A bourbon barrel held it, vanilla and a soft spice over the oily malt. By the integrating teens the sulphur fades and esters build, pineapple and wax growing over the oily spirit. Long ageing turns the young, sulphurous spirit towards mango, wax and a warm spice. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is heavy and full, mellowing with time. It was launched as a single malt brand in 2014, with a bare knuckle, old fashioned image.

At its natural 58.4% it is concentrated. Mango, wax and a meaty depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is robust and waxy, the muscular spirit shining through. The finish runs meaty, waxy and warm. This is Craigellachie, the meaty heart of White Horse.