Craigellachie Batch 12 (TBWC)

From the bottler That Boutique-y Whisky Company, an 11 year old Craigellachie, bottled at 50.2%, one of 123 bottles. Craigellachie is a robust, fruity Speyside single malt from the heart of the region. It was launched as a single malt brand in 2014, with a bare knuckle, old fashioned image.

It was drawn off pot stills cooled by traditional worm tubs, building the old fashioned Craigellachie style. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the meaty, oily malt. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the robust body turning fruitier. The meaty, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its robust, worm tub weight. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is robust and full, mellowing to tropical fruit with age. Refill oak lets the muscular Craigellachie character lead, malt and tropical fruit beneath.

At a hearty 50.2% it carries real weight. A heavy, oily maltiness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft tropical fruit and a waxy malt sit behind the cask. The finish is deep, oily and savoury. This is the worm tub malt of Craigellachie.