Craigellachie 6 Years Old 2008 Cask #1441 (Whiskymax)

This Craigellachie was bottled by the bottler Whiskymax, a 6 year old, distilled in 2008, from cask 1441, bottled at 46%, one of 450 bottles. Craigellachie is a robust, oily Speyside single malt made on worm tub condensers. Bacardi's John Dewar and Sons bought it in 1998, alongside Aberfeldy, Aultmore and Royal Brackla.

The spirit was worked through stills and worm tubs for a muscular, oily spirit, for the muscular, meaty make Craigellachie is known for. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a tropical fruit over the meaty spirit. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and oak lactones as coconut over a robust, sulphurous malt. A big sherry cask suits the muscular spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight. Its malt has long been the muscular heart of the White Horse blend. Long ageing turns the young, sulphurous spirit towards mango, wax and a warm spice.

Reduced to 46%, it is mellow. A heavy, oily maltiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is robust and waxy, the muscular spirit shining through. The finish is long, oily and savoury. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real character.