Craigellachie 11 Years Old 2012 Cask #900693 (Signatory)

An 11 year old Craigellachie from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2012, from cask 900693, bottled at 68.2%, one of 595 bottles. Craigellachie is a robust, fruity Speyside single malt from the heart of the region. Water comes from a local spring in the Blue Hill area above the village.

It was made in copper stills whose worm tubs build a robust make, for an oily, robust make that turns tropical with age. An Oloroso hogshead lent fig, raisin and a savoury, nutty edge. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the malt, the worm tub weight softening to tropical fruit. The robust make rewards long ageing, the meatiness giving way to tropical fruit. Its malt has long been the muscular heart of the White Horse blend. With age the meaty young spirit turns to pineapple, mango and a waxy depth. Most of its make still goes to blending, a robust filler prized for its weight.

At 68.2%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. A heavy, oily maltiness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Pineapple, malt and a savoury wax fill the middle. The close is long, fruit over a meaty malt. This is one of Speyside's most robust single malts.