Craigellachie 12 Years Old 2010 Cask #DL 16488 (Old Particular)

A 12 year old Craigellachie from the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, distilled in 2010, from cask DL 16488, bottled at 48.4%. Craigellachie is a robust, oily Speyside single malt made on worm tub condensers. The distillery was founded in 1891 by a group led by Peter Mackie, the man behind the White Horse blend.

The spirit was run through the distillery's stills and old fashioned worm tubs, giving the heavy, oily spirit at its heart. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding vanilla and a waxy tropical fruit. By the integrating teens the sulphur fades and esters build, pineapple and wax growing over the oily spirit. Long ageing turns the young, sulphurous spirit towards mango, wax and a warm spice. Most of its make still goes to blending, a robust filler prized for its weight. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is heavy and full, mellowing with time.

At cask strength 48.4% it is full bodied. Malt, dried fruit and a savoury oil, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. The finish is long, oily and savoury. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real character.