Craigellachie 14 Years Old 2000 Cask #LD 10534 (Douglas of Drumlanrig)

A Craigellachie of a 14 year old chosen by the bottler Douglas of Drumlanrig, distilled in 2000, from cask LD 10534, bottled at 46%, one of 399 bottles. Craigellachie was built in 1891 and is one of the few distilleries still using worm tubs. Its malt has long been the muscular heart of the White Horse blend.

The spirit was distilled in copper stills with worm tub condensers on Blue Hill spring water, to build a robust, sulphurous, full bodied character. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut to the robust spirit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper, tropical fruit over the meaty malt. The heavy, oily make is prized by blenders for the backbone it gives White Horse. Long ageing turns the young, sulphurous spirit towards mango, wax and a warm spice. A big sherry cask suits the muscular spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight.

At 46% it is gentle, sweet and fruity. Meaty malt, tropical fruit and a waxy oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. The finish runs meaty, waxy and warm. This is a meaty, tropical Speyside single malt.