Craigellachie 15 Years Old 2006 (Phil & Simon Thompson)

From the bottler Phil & Simon Thompson, a 15 year old Craigellachie, distilled in 2006, bottled at 50%, one of 327 bottles. Craigellachie sits above Telford's famous Spey bridge, a Speyside distillery of real muscle. The official range runs a thirteen, seventeen and twenty three year old, with rare older bottlings.

The spirit was distilled in copper stills with worm tub condensers on Blue Hill spring water, for a bold, meaty Speyside spirit. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the oak letting the oily, robust character lead. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (pineapple and mango) over the oily, meaty depth. Craigellachie is one of the last Speyside malts still built on worm tubs. Water comes from a local spring in the Blue Hill area above the village. With age the meaty young spirit turns to pineapple, mango and a waxy depth. Refill oak lets the muscular Craigellachie character lead, malt and tropical fruit beneath.

At a natural 50% it is full and honeyed. Pineapple, malt and a savoury edge, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dried fruit and a savoury, oily depth give it weight. The finish is deep, oily and savoury. This is a meaty, tropical Speyside single malt.