Craigellachie 13 Years Old 2009 Cask #4866 (Connoisseurs Choice)

This Craigellachie was bottled by the Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail, a 13 year old, distilled in 2009, from cask 4866, bottled at 55.7%, one of 220 bottles. Craigellachie was founded in 1891 by a consortium led by Peter Mackie of White Horse fame. It was launched as a single malt brand in 2014, with a bare knuckle, old fashioned image.

It was distilled in copper stills with worm tub condensers on Blue Hill spring water, giving the heavy, oily spirit at its heart. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the meaty character to the fore. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the malt, the worm tub weight softening to tropical fruit. The meaty, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its robust, worm tub weight. The official range runs a thirteen, seventeen and twenty three year old, with rare older bottlings. Bacardi's John Dewar and Sons bought it in 1998, alongside Aberfeldy, Aultmore and Royal Brackla.

Bottled at a cask strength 55.7%, it is rich. Pineapple, malt and a savoury edge, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Pineapple, malt and a savoury wax fill the middle. A long, oily finish carries a tropical depth. This is a meaty, tropical Speyside single malt.