Craigellachie Batch 4 (TBWC)

A Craigellachie of a 9 year old chosen by the bottler That Boutique-y Whisky Company, bottled at 49.4%, one of 271 bottles. Craigellachie is a robust, oily Speyside single malt made on worm tub condensers. The distillery was founded in 1891 by a group led by Peter Mackie, the man behind the White Horse blend.

Worked through stills and worm tubs for a muscular, oily spirit, giving the heavy, oily spirit at its heart. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla and pineapple over the robust spirit. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and oak lactones as coconut over a robust, sulphurous malt. The oily spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and tropical fruit over a meaty malt. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the meaty malt. Worm tubs give little copper contact, so the new spirit is robust and full, mellowing to tropical fruit with age.

At a hearty 49.4% it carries real weight. Mango, wax and a meaty depth, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Pineapple, malt and a savoury wax fill the middle. It finishes robust, waxy and warm. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real character.