Craigellachie 15 Years Old 2006 Cask #810247 (Blackadder)

A 15 year old Craigellachie from the bottler Blackadder, distilled in 2006, from cask 810247, bottled at 58.8%, one of 88 bottles. Craigellachie is a robust, fruity Speyside single malt from the heart of the region. 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, to build a robust, sulphurous, full bodied character. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the meaty character to the fore. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (pineapple and mango) over the oily, meaty depth. The robust make rewards long ageing, the meatiness giving way to tropical fruit. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is heavy and full, mellowing with time. The oily spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and tropical fruit over a meaty malt.

Bottled at a cask strength 58.8%, it is rich. Pineapple, malt and a savoury edge, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The texture is full and oily, the fruit lifted by a meaty weight. The finish is deep, oily and savoury. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real character.