Craigellachie 13 Years Old 2003 Cask #127 (A.D. Rattray)

This Craigellachie was bottled by A.D. Rattray, a 13 year old, distilled in 2003, from cask 127, bottled at 58.9%, one of 310 bottles. Craigellachie sits above Telford's famous Spey bridge, a Speyside distillery of real muscle. It sits at the village of Craigellachie, where the River Fiddich joins the Spey by Telford's iron bridge.

It was drawn off pot stills cooled by traditional worm tubs, for an oily, robust make that turns tropical with age. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla and pineapple over the robust spirit. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the robust body turning fruitier. A big sherry cask suits the muscular spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight. Years in oak round the spirit, the worm tub weight turning to pineapple and wax. The oily spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and tropical fruit over a meaty malt.

At a natural 58.9% it is full and honeyed. Malt, dried fruit and a savoury oil, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a savoury, oily depth give it weight. The finish is deep, oily and savoury. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real character.