About
Craigellachie distillery was established in 1891 in Banffshire, near the village of Craigellachie in Speyside, Scotland. Craigellachie can be translated from Gaelic as “rocky hill”. The majority of the whisky it produces is used in blended Scotch whiskies, such as Dewar’s.
Craigellachie 13 Year is a superb old fashioned single malt (in fact it states on the label that is was “old fashioned in 1891”). What we mean by old fashioned is of course the design of the label, the method of production, and the fact that the whisky is un-chill filtered and bottled at 46% alc/vol., and by the looks of it does not have any caramel coloring.
Ultimate Beverage Challenge – 93 points.
Tasting Notes
NOSE: Complex, dry, grassy, green fruit, notes of cinnamon malty sweetness linger in the background. With addition of water sweetness becomes more pronounced, vanilla and butterscotch develop.
PALATE: Rich, thick, creamy, complex green fruit, bitter, earthy, charred wood. With a drop of water honey notes develop, bitter almonds, burnt toffee, dark chocolate.
FINISH: Long, woody, notes of fruit, malty.
Final note: Craigellachie 13 Year is a beautiful, quality crafted bottle of whisky. But it’s NOT for a beginner whisky drinker, it needs patience and requires some work. In fact, when you first open it and pour your first glass, the initial impression may be even unpleasant, but if you persevere the results are more than rewarding. Keep in mind, it is not an engineered single malt (unlike some top selling brands), but it offers a load of flavor and complexity, if you are up for a challenge!