Craigellachie 16 Years Old 2006 (SMWS 44.165)

The bottler Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottled this Craigellachie, a 16 year old, distilled in 2006, from cask 44.165, bottled at 61.8%, one of 239 bottles. Craigellachie is an old fashioned Speyside malt, full bodied and sulphurous in youth, tropical with age. Bacardi's John Dewar and Sons bought it in 1998, alongside Aberfeldy, Aultmore and Royal Brackla.

Drawn off pot stills cooled by traditional worm tubs, for a bold, meaty Speyside spirit. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the meaty, oily malt. In the oxidative middle years oxidation draws out a deeper tropical fruit, vanillin and lactones fully expressed. The heavy, oily make is prized by blenders for the backbone it gives White Horse. It was rebuilt in 1965, but kept its worm tubs where most distilleries dropped them. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the meaty malt.

Bottled at a cask strength 61.8%, it is rich. A heavy, oily maltiness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. It finishes robust, waxy and warm. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real character.