Craigellachie
- OWNER: JOHN DEWAR & SONS/BACARDI
- FOUNDED: 1891
- REGION: SPEYSIDE
- PRONUNCIATION: Creg-ELLA-kee
Craigellachie sits at the very heart of Speyside, on the northern edge of Aberlour and just up a hill from the Spey itself. In fact, the site was chosen because it lay at the intersection of several rail lines; in the century and change since, it has also come to sit astride several key regional roads and amid tourist-friendly neighbors like the Speyside Cooperage, the Craigellachie Hotel, and the Highlander Inn, the latter two with world-famous whisky bars. Like its dictionary neighbor Cragganmore, Craigellachie uses worm tubs to condense vapors coming off the still, producing a meaty, sulfurous note. The bulk of the whisky produced at Craigellachie goes into the White Horse blend; its first official single malt only appeared in 2014.
Craigellachie
Aged 13 Years
Aged in ex-bourbon barrels.
- PRICE $ · RATING
- AGE 13 years old
- ALC/VOL 46%
- NOSE Cinnamon applesauce, potting soil, pine, dried oak, moldy leaves, mushrooms, mandarin oranges, and a general but unavoidable meatiness. Water adds tropical fruit notes, and amps up the meat and dankness.
- PALATE A medium mouthfeel, with spicy cigars, crisp Granny Smiths, ash, and mushrooms, turning bitter toward the middle; water tamps down the sweetness, but adds a little lemon zest. The finish is long, with salty, semi-sweet chocolate.
- GENERAL Crisp, dry, and thick. A touch of ash and citrus. Robust and delicious, if not outside the ordinary.
Aged 23 Years
A relatively new release from a very old and coveted distillery that until lately has been shy about bottling its own whisky.
- PRICE $$$$ · RATING
- AGE 23 years old
- ALC/VOL 46%
- NOSE Cedar, roasted notes, soapy, minerality, maple syrup, and cherries and cream; water underlines the minerality, with slate, chalk, and potting soil.
- PALATE Round and creamy, with orange and lemon, building to a spicy pop at mid-palate; water adds sweet nuts and ginger honey. The finish is long, with grapefruit and white pepper.
- GENERAL The definition of a gracefully aged whisky—rich honey notes, without too much oak influence.