Craigellachie 13 Years Old 2009 Cask #305227 (Whisky AGE)

This Craigellachie was bottled by the bottler Whisky AGE, a 13 year old, distilled in 2009, from cask 305227, bottled at 53.8%, one of 299 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 for the heavy, meaty spirit Craigellachie is known for, to build a robust, sulphurous, full bodied character. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding vanilla and a waxy tropical fruit. By the integrating teens the sulphur fades and esters build, pineapple and wax growing over the oily spirit. Years in oak round the spirit, the worm tub weight turning to pineapple and wax. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the meaty malt. Most Craigellachie goes quietly into blends, a robust filler kept in part as single malt.

At cask strength 53.8% it is full bodied. Meaty malt, tropical fruit and a waxy oil, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. It finishes robust, waxy and warm. This is an oily, tropical Speyside single malt.