Craigellachie 14 Years Old

This official Craigellachie, a 14 year old, at 40%. Craigellachie is a robust, oily Speyside single malt made on worm tub condensers. It was launched as a single malt brand in 2014, with a bare knuckle, old fashioned image.

It was drawn off pot stills cooled by traditional worm tubs, giving the heavy, oily spirit at its heart. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the meaty character to the fore. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper, tropical fruit over the meaty malt. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is heavy and full, mellowing with time. Most Craigellachie goes quietly into blends, a robust filler kept in part as single malt. Long ageing turns the young, sulphurous spirit towards mango, wax and a warm spice. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is robust and full, mellowing to tropical fruit with age.

Bottled at 40%, it is rounded. Tropical fruit, malt and a warm spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is heavy and oily, the fruit carried on a meaty body. It finishes robust, waxy and warm. This is the muscular, meaty Speyside malt of Craigellachie.