Craigellachie 17 Years Old 2002 Cask #MoS 19035 (Malts of Scotland)

From the bottler Malts of Scotland, a 17 year old Craigellachie, distilled in 2002, from cask MoS 19035, bottled at 56.2%, one of 281 bottles. Craigellachie is a Speyside distillery in the village of the same name, famous for its muscular, meaty single malt. It was launched as a single malt brand in 2014, with a bare knuckle, old fashioned image.

It was distilled in copper stills with worm tub condensers on Blue Hill spring water, for a bold, meaty Speyside spirit. A sherry cask wrapped the muscular spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. In the oxidative middle years oxidation draws out a deeper tropical fruit, vanillin and lactones fully expressed. Years in oak round the spirit, the worm tub weight turning to pineapple and wax. Refill oak lets the muscular Craigellachie character lead, malt and tropical fruit beneath.

At a hearty 56.2% it carries real weight. Mango, wax and a meaty depth, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is robust and waxy, the muscular spirit shining through. A robust, malty finish ends on tropical fruit and a warm spice. This is one of Speyside's most robust single malts.