2010 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Craigellachie 14 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Around 14 years old seems to be a good age for Craigellachie, a fact confirmed by the official release 13 year old which remains the distillery's leading line. Long fermentations are responsible for a fragrant, fruity aspect in the distillate, giving it a tropical and slightly floral edge that's most noticeable in mature examples. In this 14 year old from Rattray, tradition and heritage meet experimentation and modernity via an “old-style” spirit drawn from an x Bourbon barrel acquired back in 2010. It's been given an extra layer of complexity through finishing in a first-fill Burgundy red wine cask. Matching casks with secondary woods is a continual learning process. Here the bottlers say the spirit has gained appreciable notes of Pinot Noir, complementing Craigellachie's characteristically full-bodied base. Cask No.18 yielded 296 bottles at 57.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Nectarine gold. Nose: Fresh iris, blackcurrant jam and apricot toasted oat crumble. Palate: Charred peach, dried cranberry and rose petal jelly. Finish: Spiced berry compote with a sprinkling of toasted pine nut.