Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Distillery: Craigellachie.
Bottler: SMWS.
Region: Scotland/Speyside Single Malt.
ABV: 58.3%. Cask Strength.
Age: 19 Years. Distilled on 27 June 2003.
Cask type: Bourbon Hogshead (14 Years), First Fill Spanish Oak Oloroso Hogshead.
Nose: Big dried fruits and nuts; spicier elements joined with nutmeg, cinnamon, and hints of black pepper; an underlying herbal tea and spice gradually shifted toward tobacco and cigar boxes with dark chocolate pudding; hints of barbecue chips and match-heads.
Palate: Full-bodied, oily and viscous upfront, drying on the back end; loaded with dried fruits and chocolate, smoked meat bark and leather, dark chocolate with cinnamon and chili pepper, raisins and candle wicks at the end.
Finish: Long and lingering dried fruits and pepper.
Mental Image: Nagual’s Secret Soufflé Recipe.
Conclusion: Rich and sherried, this Craigellachie featured a chocolate and dried fruit explosion with more savory and sulfurous notes hiding in the background. The thick and robust spirit, a product of the worm tubs that allow more heavy or sulfurous compounds to come through, stood up well against an aggressive cask finish. Few distilleries produce a weighty enough spirit to handle such a big cask finish without getting steamrolled; Glenfarclas and Macallan come to mind, so many others end up with all their character stripped away.
Big sherry bombs like this are not usually my style, but I love it when they pull toward dark chocolate, chili pepper, and savory barbecue elements— what a combination. This whisky hit those marks and while I would not pour something like this often, I would absolutely grab this when in the mood for something rich and fruity.
Overall, a pleasant surprise and my kind of sherry-bomb.
Final Score: 84.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 