Craigellachie 8 Years Old 2016 Cask #EXP1083 (Claxton’s)

A Craigellachie of an 8 year old chosen by the bottler Claxton's, distilled in 2016, from cask EXP1083, bottled at 50%. Craigellachie is a robust, fruity Speyside single malt from the heart of the region. It keeps its worm tub condensers, an old fashioned set up that builds a heavy, meaty, sulphurous spirit.

It was distilled in copper stills with worm tub condensers on Blue Hill spring water, for a bold, meaty Speyside spirit. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the meaty, oily malt. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and lactones a coconut, the spirit heavy, oily and robust. The robust make rewards long ageing, the meatiness giving way to tropical fruit. Craigellachie is one of the last Speyside malts still built on worm tubs. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the meaty malt.

At a hearty 50% it carries real weight. Mango, wax and a meaty depth, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dried fruit and a savoury, oily depth give it weight. Tropical fruit, malt and a savoury oak see out the finish. This is an oily, tropical Speyside single malt.