Craigellachie 14 Years Old 2007 Cask #7570900651 (Duncan Taylor)

From the Huntly bottler Duncan Taylor, a 14 year old Craigellachie, distilled in 2007, from cask 7570900651, bottled at 54.3%, one of 364 bottles. Craigellachie is an old fashioned Speyside malt, full bodied and sulphurous in youth, tropical with age. Most of its make still goes to blending, a robust filler prized for its weight.

The spirit was made in copper stills whose worm tubs build a robust make, 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. A big sherry cask suits the muscular spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight. Water comes from a local spring in the Blue Hill area above the village. It was launched as a single malt brand in 2014, with a bare knuckle, old fashioned image.

At cask strength 54.3% it is full bodied. Pineapple, malt and a savoury edge, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft tropical fruit and a waxy malt sit behind the cask. A robust, malty finish ends on tropical fruit and a warm spice. This is Craigellachie's robust, oily Speyside style.