Craigellachie 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

While most of Craigellachie’s production is still channeled into Dewar’s blends, there’s been consistent efforts to showcase the distillery via official bottlings. First came a 13 year old. The 17 year old and a 23 year old shortly followed. Then a duty free exclusive 19 and a world beating 31 year old. Part of Craigellachie’s charm is that it still uses old-fashioned worm tubs, said to add extra flavour while also resulting in whiskies that “taste older than they are”. The house style is typically robust, spicy, warming and slightly oily in texture with citrus and American oak to the fore.
Like previous releases, the 17 Year Old comes handsomely packaged with a 'retro' label and an impressive heavy set bottle.

Other reviews… [bottle code L19011ZA500] Invigorating barley; a real nip, with sharp sugars and some pointy oak too, too... a resounding Speyside style delivery with the barley bouncing around the palate on delivery; the spices move in pretty sharpish before some top quality tannins add their delicate hickory depth; the elegance of the oils is both enriching... and a surprise; a glorious mix of malt and milky spiced cocoa; this bottling is a great improvement on previous versions I have encountered. What an interesting and delicious dram, showing the distillery at its best! 46% Alc./Vol. 94 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2020

Golden, lifted, and aromatic. The fleshy ripeness of the 13 year old is still there, but that little sulfur edge has now gone, revealing the ripe fruits massing underneath. Now you find pineapple and light chalk. The flowers have become daffodils and bluebells rather than lily, along with a soft, vanilla ice cream plumpness. Sweet and full, and just a shade lighter than the 13 year old. Muscly, but sweet; that’s the paradox of the Craigellachie character.
87 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Dave Broom (Winter 2014)