Craigellachie 13 yr Single Malt 750ml

Craigellachie distillery was built in the 1890s in the Speyside village of the same name, taking advantage of the railway lines that once ran through the area, and today it is owned by Bacardi. For decades the distillery's spirit went almost entirely into blends, most notably Dewar's, with very little bottled as single malt until the 13 Year Old was released in 2014 alongside two older expressions, giving drinkers their first real look at the distillery's character on its own.

Craigellachie remains one of the few distilleries still using traditional worm tub condensers, a slower and less efficient cooling method than the shell-and-tube systems most producers switched to decades ago, which contributes to the spirit's noticeably weighty, waxy texture. This expression is matured in a mix of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, then bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtration or added color, preserving the fuller mouthfeel the worm tubs help create.

The nose brings baked apple, toasted marshmallow, and a current of smoke, with clove and a faint mineral edge underneath. On the palate, tropical fruit and citrus oil meet biscuity malt and warming spice, developing into a dry, moderately long finish with a touch of grapefruit pith and lingering pepper.