Craigellachie 23 Years Old Cask #Batch 04-6502

This official Craigellachie, a 23 year old, cask Batch 04-6502, at 46%. Craigellachie is the bold, oily Speyside malt that anchors the White Horse blend. It was rebuilt in 1965, but kept its worm tubs where most distilleries dropped them.

Run through the distillery's stills and old fashioned worm tubs, building the old fashioned Craigellachie style. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and a tropical fruit over the meaty spirit. Oxidative, evaporative ageing turns the malt deep and waxy, ethereal esters and a faint sotolon (maple). Craigellachie is one of the last Speyside malts still built on worm tubs. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is robust and full, mellowing to tropical fruit with age. Most of its make still goes to blending, a robust filler prized for its weight. With age the meaty young spirit turns to pineapple, mango and a waxy depth.

At 46% it is clean and soft. A heavy, oily maltiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is robust and waxy, the muscular spirit shining through. The finish is long, oily and savoury. This is Craigellachie's robust, oily Speyside style.