Craigellachie 13 Years Old 2005 Cask #314984 (Jewish Whisky Company)

The bottler Jewish Whisky Company bottled this Craigellachie, a 13 year old, distilled in 2005, from cask 314984, bottled at 58.1%. Craigellachie sits above Telford's famous Spey bridge, a Speyside distillery of real muscle. It keeps its worm tub condensers, an old fashioned set up that builds a heavy, meaty, sulphurous spirit.

The spirit was distilled in copper stills with worm tub condensers on Blue Hill spring water, for the muscular, meaty make Craigellachie is known for. A bourbon barrel held it, vanilla and a soft spice over the oily malt. 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. Craigellachie is one of the last Speyside malts still built on worm tubs. It was launched as a single malt brand in 2014, with a bare knuckle, old fashioned image.

Bottled at a cask strength 58.1%, it is rich. A muscular, waxy sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run meaty malt, tropical fruit and a waxy oil. The finish is long, oily and savoury. This is a meaty, tropical Speyside single malt.