Craigellachie 13 Years Old 1999 Cask #91011 (Ian Macleod)

From the bottler Ian Macleod, a 13 year old Craigellachie, distilled in 1999, from cask 91011, bottled at 43%, one of 768 bottles. Craigellachie sits above Telford's famous Spey bridge, a Speyside distillery of real muscle. It was launched as a single malt brand in 2014, with a bare knuckle, old fashioned image.

It was distilled for the heavy, meaty spirit Craigellachie is known for, to build a robust, sulphurous, full bodied character. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut to the robust spirit. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the robust body turning fruitier. The robust make rewards long ageing, the meatiness giving way to tropical fruit. Its malt has long been the muscular heart of the White Horse blend. It sits at the village of Craigellachie, where the River Fiddich joins the Spey by Telford's iron bridge.

At 43% it is smooth and honeyed. Malt, dried fruit and a savoury oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The texture is full and oily, the fruit lifted by a meaty weight. The finish runs meaty, waxy and warm. This is Craigellachie's robust, oily Speyside style.