Craigellachie 16 Years Old 2006 Cask #900176 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage bottled this Craigellachie, a 16 year old, distilled in 2006, from cask 900176, bottled at 61.6%, one of 314 bottles. Craigellachie is a robust, fruity Speyside single malt from the heart of the region. It sits at the village of Craigellachie, where the River Fiddich joins the Spey by Telford's iron bridge.

The spirit was distilled for the heavy, meaty spirit Craigellachie is known for, for an oily, robust make that turns tropical with age. A Pedro Ximenez cask added raisin, date and a treacle sweetness. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, the worm tub weight turning to mango and a waxy depth. The heavy, oily make is prized by blenders for the backbone it gives White Horse. With age the meaty young spirit turns to pineapple, mango and a waxy depth. The robust make rewards long ageing, the meatiness giving way to tropical fruit.

At cask strength 61.6% it is full bodied. Meaty malt, tropical fruit and a waxy oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft tropical fruit and a waxy malt sit behind the cask. Tropical fruit, malt and a savoury oak see out the finish. This is Craigellachie, the meaty heart of White Horse.