Craigellachie 11 Years Old 2012 Cask #2949 (BB&R)

A Craigellachie of an 11 year old chosen by the London merchant Berry Bros and Rudd, distilled in 2012, from cask 2949, bottled at 54.3%, one of 434 bottles. Craigellachie is an old fashioned Speyside malt, full bodied and sulphurous in youth, tropical with age. The distillery was founded in 1891 by a group led by Peter Mackie, the man behind the White Horse blend.

Drawn off pot stills cooled by traditional worm tubs, giving the heavy, oily spirit at its heart. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a tropical fruit over the meaty spirit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper, tropical fruit over the meaty malt. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is heavy and full, mellowing with time. A big sherry cask suits the muscular spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight.

At cask strength 54.3% it is full bodied. Meaty malt, tropical fruit and a waxy oil, 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 an oily, tropical Speyside single malt.