Craigellachie 15 Years Old 2007 Cask #HL 19607 (Old Malt Cask)

From the independent Hunter Laing, a 15 year old Craigellachie, distilled in 2007, from cask HL 19607, bottled at 50%, one of 518 bottles. Craigellachie is a Bacardi owned Speyside distillery whose worm tubs give a heavy, meaty spirit. 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, for an oily, robust make that turns tropical with age. An Oloroso hogshead lent fig, raisin and a savoury, nutty edge. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, the worm tub weight turning to mango and a waxy depth. The oily spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and tropical fruit over a meaty malt. 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.

At cask strength 50% it is full bodied. Mango, wax and a meaty depth, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The texture is full and oily, the fruit lifted by a meaty weight. A long, oily finish carries a tropical depth. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real character.