Craigellachie 7 Years Old 2008 Cask #ABD 1018 (Blackadder)

A Craigellachie of a 7 year old chosen by the bottler Blackadder, distilled in 2008, from cask ABD 1018, bottled at 46%, one of 228 bottles. Craigellachie is a Bacardi owned Speyside distillery whose worm tubs give a heavy, meaty spirit. 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, building the old fashioned Craigellachie style. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the meaty character to the fore. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and lactones a coconut, the spirit heavy, oily and robust. A big sherry cask suits the muscular spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight. Long ageing turns the young, sulphurous spirit towards mango, wax and a warm spice. It keeps its worm tub condensers, an old fashioned set up that builds a heavy, meaty, sulphurous spirit.

At an approachable 46% it is soft and easy. A heavy, oily maltiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run meaty malt, tropical fruit and a waxy oil. The finish is deep, oily and savoury. This is the muscular, meaty Speyside malt of Craigellachie.