Craigellachie 10 Years Old 2008 Cask #900618 (Signatory)

A 10 year old Craigellachie from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2008, from cask 900618, bottled at 63.3%, one of 613 bottles. Craigellachie sits above Telford's famous Spey bridge, a Speyside distillery of real muscle. The official range runs a thirteen, seventeen and twenty three year old, with rare older bottlings.

The spirit was distilled in copper stills with worm tub condensers on Blue Hill spring water, building the old fashioned Craigellachie style. A Pedro Ximenez cask added raisin, date and a treacle sweetness. By the integrating teens the sulphur fades and esters build, pineapple and wax growing over the oily spirit. The robust make rewards long ageing, the meatiness giving way to tropical fruit. 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 a natural 63.3% it is full and honeyed. Meaty malt, tropical fruit and a waxy oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. 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.