Craigellachie 11 Years Old 2007 Cask #900694 (Alistair Walker Whisky Company)

From the bottler Alistair Walker Whisky Company, an 11 year old Craigellachie, distilled in 2007, from cask 900694, bottled at 59.8%, one of 341 bottles. Craigellachie, where the Fiddich meets the Spey, is the meaty backbone of the White Horse blend. Most of its make still goes to blending, a robust filler prized for its weight.

Made in copper stills whose worm tubs build a robust make, for a bold, meaty Speyside spirit. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the meaty character to the fore. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper, tropical fruit over the meaty malt. Refill oak lets the muscular Craigellachie character lead, malt and tropical fruit beneath. It sits at the village of Craigellachie, where the River Fiddich joins the Spey by Telford's iron bridge. Years in oak round the spirit, the worm tub weight turning to pineapple and wax.

Bottled at a cask strength 59.8%, it is rich. Mango, wax and a meaty depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is heavy and oily, the fruit carried on a meaty body. The finish is deep, oily and savoury. This is one of Speyside's most robust single malts.