Craigellachie 13 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

"A statement whisky that is a must-try". - Dave Broom

First released in 2014, Craigellachie's 13 year old is a perfect introduction to the distillery's heavy distillate, partly the result of short fermentations but also due to enormous stills with straight lyne arms adding reflux. Even from a 30ml sample, it's a whisky with terrific depth. Fruity, almost floral aromas hint at lucerne mulch and new leather, slowly giving way to ripe orchard fruits - especially green apples. The palate sports delicious, buttery-malt and spicy pear flavours with more pepper, late fruitiness and lingering spices. Some tasters also note a slightly sulphury / smokey edge (think spent matches). This style won't be for everyone, but it is undeniably one of the more distinctive malts in its price bracket. 46% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Light amber. The initial impression is one of bulk. There are heavy florals — think lilies and stewed white fruit, and just-overripe banana — but this is given a mysterious extra heft by an underpinning of a light meatiness, accompanied by a tiny lift of (good) sulfur. The palate is, unsurprisingly, thick and creamy with huge fruit that fills the mouth. A highly physical, old-style Speyside dram with classic distillery character. A statement whisky that is a must-try. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com, (Winter 2014) Reviewed by: Dave Broom

...You couldn’t make a label look more ‘retro’, could you! Unless you start using hieroglyphs or cuneiform alphabet. Colour: straw. Nose: it is a milder, rounder and sweeter version of the 2003, but the background is similar. Wee touches of mezcal again, a little earth, a little sulphur (spirit sulphur) that borders almondiness (what?), plenty of apples and then a few raisins and a touch of vanilla. It’s got a style, and that’s just great, even if it does nose a little young, almost as much so as the DL. Mouth: a few burnt notes in the attack, notes of distillation, cooked sugar and herbs… But it gets then cleaner, maltier and slightly smoky, with a bitterish edge. May lack a part of the DL’s vibrancy (as the pros say.) Finish: rather long, between candy sugar and this bitter side. Grapefruit skin. Comments: mixed feelings here. On the one hand, I find the honesty and the nakedness fantastic, it’s not botoxed whisky at all. On the other hand, I find it a little raw and bitter. Let’s try the older ones… 79 points - whiskyfun.com