Craigellachie 13 Years Old 2008 Cask #900621 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage bottled this Craigellachie, a 13 year old, distilled in 2008, from cask 900621, bottled at 64.1%, one of 606 bottles. Craigellachie was founded in 1891 by a consortium led by Peter Mackie of White Horse fame. It was rebuilt in 1965, but kept its worm tubs where most distilleries dropped them.

The spirit was distilled in copper stills with worm tub condensers on Blue Hill spring water, for an oily, robust make that turns tropical with age. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the meaty, oily malt. 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. Bacardi's John Dewar and Sons bought it in 1998, alongside Aberfeldy, Aultmore and Royal Brackla.

At 64.1%, undiluted, it is deep and fruity. A heavy, oily maltiness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath it run meaty malt, tropical fruit and a waxy oil. A robust, malty finish ends on tropical fruit and a warm spice. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real character.