Craigellachie 8 Years Old 2008 Cask #Batch 0001 (Duncan Taylor)

The Huntly bottler Duncan Taylor bottled this Craigellachie, an 8 year old, distilled in 2008, from cask Batch 0001, bottled at 46%. Craigellachie is a robust, fruity Speyside single malt from the heart of the region. With age the meaty young spirit turns to pineapple, mango and a waxy depth.

It was distilled for the heavy, meaty spirit Craigellachie is known for, for an oily, robust make that turns tropical with age. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the heavy spirit. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and oak lactones as coconut over a robust, sulphurous malt. The heavy, oily make is prized by blenders for the backbone it gives White Horse. The meaty, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its robust, worm tub weight. Long ageing turns the young, sulphurous spirit towards mango, wax and a warm spice. The cool Speyside air gives a slow, even maturation, the young sulphur fading to fruit.

At 46% it is clean and soft. A heavy, oily maltiness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A baked fruit and a warm spice lift it. A robust, malty finish ends on tropical fruit and a warm spice. This is one of Speyside's most robust single malts.