Craigellachie 12 Years Old 2011 Cask #75900022 (Duncan Taylor)

A 12 year old Craigellachie from the Huntly bottler Duncan Taylor, distilled in 2011, from cask 75900022, bottled at 52.4%, one of 667 bottles. Craigellachie was founded in 1891 by a consortium led by Peter Mackie of White Horse fame. It sits at the village of Craigellachie, where the River Fiddich joins the Spey by Telford's iron bridge.

The spirit was drawn off pot stills cooled by traditional worm tubs, for a bold, meaty Speyside spirit. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut to the robust spirit. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the malt, the worm tub weight softening to tropical fruit. Craigellachie is one of the last Speyside malts still built on worm tubs. Its malt has long been the muscular heart of the White Horse blend. The official range runs a thirteen, seventeen and twenty three year old, with rare older bottlings.

At its natural 52.4% it is concentrated. Pineapple, malt and a savoury edge, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is robust and waxy, the muscular spirit shining through. Tropical fruit, malt and a savoury oak see out the finish. This is Craigellachie's robust, oily Speyside style.