Craigellachie 10 Years Old 2008 Cask #800114 (van Wees)

A 10 year old Craigellachie from the bottler van Wees, distilled in 2008, from cask 800114, bottled at 46%, one of 300 bottles. Craigellachie was built in 1891 and is one of the few distilleries still using worm tubs. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is robust and full, mellowing to tropical fruit with age.

It was worked through stills and worm tubs for a muscular, oily spirit, to build a robust, sulphurous, full bodied character. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla and pineapple over the robust spirit. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the robust body turning fruitier. The meaty, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its robust, worm tub weight. Years in oak round the spirit, the worm tub weight turning to pineapple and wax. The oily spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and tropical fruit over a meaty malt.

At 46% it is gentle, sweet and fruity. A muscular, waxy sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a savoury, oily depth give it weight. The finish runs meaty, waxy and warm. This is Craigellachie's robust, oily Speyside style.