Craigellachie 14 Years Old 2007 Cask #900654 (UD – bottler)

This Craigellachie was bottled by the bottler UD - bottler, a 14 year old, distilled in 2007, from cask 900654, bottled at 61.3%, one of 286 bottles. Craigellachie sits above Telford's famous Spey bridge, a Speyside distillery of real muscle. Bacardi's John Dewar and Sons bought it in 1998, alongside Aberfeldy, Aultmore and Royal Brackla.

Drawn off pot stills cooled by traditional worm tubs, for the muscular, meaty make Craigellachie is known for. A bourbon barrel held it, vanilla and a soft spice over the oily malt. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the robust body turning fruitier. Most Craigellachie goes quietly into blends, a robust filler kept in part as single malt. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the oily, tropical core over the years. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the meaty malt.

At a natural 61.3% it is full and honeyed. A heavy, oily maltiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is robust and waxy, the muscular spirit shining through. It finishes robust, waxy and warm. This is one of Speyside's most robust single malts.