Craigellachie 15 Years Old 2008 Cask #900368 (Murray McDavid)

A 15 year old Craigellachie from the independent Murray McDavid, distilled in 2008, from cask 900368, bottled at 56.9%, one of 291 bottles. Craigellachie, where the Fiddich meets the Spey, is the meaty backbone of the White Horse blend. The distillery was founded in 1891 by a group led by Peter Mackie, the man behind the White Horse blend.

The spirit was distilled in copper stills with worm tub condensers on Blue Hill spring water, to build a robust, sulphurous, full bodied character. A Port cask laid plum and red berry over the meaty spirit. At oxidative maturity aldehydes and esters lend tropical fruit while ellagitannins add a drying, savoury grip. The meaty, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its robust, worm tub weight. A big sherry cask suits the muscular spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight. The heavy, oily make is prized by blenders for the backbone it gives White Horse.

At its natural 56.9% it is concentrated. A heavy, oily maltiness, with plum, red berry and chocolate from the cask. It is robust and waxy, the muscular spirit shining through. The close is long, fruit over a meaty malt. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real character.