Craigellachie 13 Years Old 2007 Cask #1826 (Alistair Walker Whisky Company)

This Craigellachie was bottled by the bottler Alistair Walker Whisky Company, a 13 year old, distilled in 2007, from cask 1826, bottled at 58.3%, one of 654 bottles. Craigellachie is a robust, oily Speyside single malt made on worm tub condensers. It sits at the village of Craigellachie, where the River Fiddich joins the Spey by Telford's iron bridge.

The spirit was distilled for the heavy, meaty spirit Craigellachie is known for, giving the heavy, oily spirit at its heart. A Pedro Ximenez cask added raisin, date and a treacle sweetness. By the integrating teens the sulphur fades and esters build, pineapple and wax growing over the oily spirit. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is heavy and full, mellowing with time. Craigellachie is one of the last Speyside malts still built on worm tubs. The robust make rewards long ageing, the meatiness giving way to tropical fruit.

At 58.3%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. Mango, wax and a meaty depth, 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 an oily, tropical Speyside single malt.