Wee duets, today Craigellachie


September 6, 2022

Wee duets, today Craigel-lachie

We're not expecting our world to get rocked today, but it's always good to have a short go at these names. I will add that we haven't spotted any real new OB for a good while, unless I haven't been paying attention. Having said, that, this statement by owners Dewar's is pretty intriguing: 'Craigellachie is an unapologetic and unique whisky, robust and muscular with a hint of pineapple.' Pineapple? Allyl amyl glycolate?

Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008)
Page 1, Paragraph 8 (Short Stories, 2000)
Robert Rauschenberg Foundation

Craigellachie 15 yo 2006/2021 (48.5%, Decadent Drinks, Equinox & Solstice, 1st fill sherry hogshead)

Colour: deep gold. Nose: we've rarely been this close to brandy with any middle-aged malt whisky, with preserved peaches, raisins, chocolate and prunes, but that may well be this first fill sherry. A good armagnac, shall we say. Or, no, rather a cognac. It'll need a good five minutes to get maltier, earthier, rootier and more savoury, but I'm sure that's the 1st fill sherry too. Mouth: Ténarèze! Spicy chocolate, black raisins, pepper, blackcurrant jelly, walnuts, coffee, drop of Maggi… Gets then a little Demerara-y, with a tiny smoky side. Some sides remind me of that famous other Distillery that's also located in the region, as it would display more and more chocolaty raisins. Finish: long, this time closer to that famous Family-owned Distillery in Ballindalloch. Pepper, raisins, bitter chocolate. Comments: very good classic 'moderate sherry monster' as we used to say.
SGP:462 - 86 points.

Craigellachie 13 yo 2007/2021 (61.9%, Alister Walker Infrequent Flyers, Tiger's Finest Selection, Asia exclusive, Madeira finish, cask #1827, 299 bottles)

Colour: straw with faint pink hues. Was it some red madeira? Nose: we're rather in PX territories, with some sweet mustard, sweet grapes with their bitterer pips and skins, some old walnuts, vin jaune, blond pipe tobacco… With water: well, Madeira, walnuts, fino, PX, earth, radishes, a little leather, leaves, fruit peel… Mouth (neat): punchy and very orangey. Pepper, cloves and a large jar of marmalade. With water: back to wine countries, with quite some pepper, plus this sweet and sour side that's rather very 'Madeira'. More mustard too, even a little horseradish. Finish: long and really spicy, but some good dried fruits are also there. Comments: the finishing really feels, with its peppery cortege, but I do like pepper too.
SGP:561 - 82 points.

Check the index of all Craigellachie we've tasted so far