Craigellachie 13 yr Bas-Armagnac Cask Single Malt 750ml

Craigellachie distillery sits at the heart of Speyside and has produced whisky since 1891, but its style has always stood apart from its neighbors. The distillery still relies on old-fashioned worm tub condensers rather than the more common modern shell-and-tube design, a slower cooling method that gives the spirit a heavier, oilier, and more robust character than typical Speyside malts.

This 13 Year Old is first matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before being finished for just over a year in Bas-Armagnac casks sourced from Gascony, in southwestern France. Armagnac itself is produced using a similarly traditional method, distilled with the same style of worm tub condensers Craigellachie is known for, which inspired the pairing. The finishing period adds a fruit-driven, brandy-like complexity to the whisky's already muscular base spirit, and it is bottled at 46% ABV.

The nose brings ripe pineapple, green apple, and orange peel alongside malt and a floral, brandy-like lift. On the palate, baked apple and cinnamon meet caramel and vanilla, with citrus and a touch of pepper adding brightness. The finish is medium in length, lightly spiced, and carries a faint wisp of smoke from the worm tub distillation.