Craigellachie 13 Years Old 2006 Cask #CM257 (The House of MacDuff)

A 13 year old Craigellachie from the bottler The House of MacDuff, distilled in 2006, from cask CM257, bottled at 54.6%, one of 189 bottles. Craigellachie is a robust, fruity Speyside single malt from the heart of the region. The distillery was founded in 1891 by a group led by Peter Mackie, the man behind the White Horse blend.

It was made in copper stills whose worm tubs build a robust make, for an oily, robust make that turns tropical with age. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the heavy spirit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper, tropical fruit over the meaty malt. The robust make rewards long ageing, the meatiness giving way to tropical fruit. A big sherry cask suits the muscular spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight. It sits at the village of Craigellachie, where the River Fiddich joins the Spey by Telford's iron bridge.

Bottled at a cask strength 54.6%, it is rich. Meaty malt, tropical fruit and a waxy oil, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. Tropical fruit, malt and a savoury oak see out the finish. This is a meaty, tropical Speyside single malt.