Craigellachie 11 Years Old 2012 Small Batch Edition #5 (Signatory)

An 11 year old Craigellachie from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2012, bottled at 48.2%. Craigellachie is a Bacardi owned Speyside distillery whose worm tubs give a heavy, meaty spirit. With age the meaty young spirit turns to pineapple, mango and a waxy depth.

The spirit was distilled in copper stills with worm tub condensers on Blue Hill spring water, to build a robust, sulphurous, full bodied character. A sherry cask wrapped the muscular spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. By the integrating teens the sulphur fades and esters build, pineapple and wax growing over the oily spirit. Craigellachie is one of the last Speyside malts still built on worm tubs. Its malt has long been the muscular heart of the White Horse blend. The heavy, oily make is prized by blenders for the backbone it gives White Horse. The distillery was founded in 1891 by a group led by Peter Mackie, the man behind the White Horse blend.

At its natural 48.2% it is concentrated. A muscular, waxy sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dried fruit and a savoury, oily depth give it weight. The finish is deep, oily and savoury. This is an oily, tropical Speyside single malt.