Whisky Review: Craigellachie 8 Years Old 2008 Hepburn’s Choice

Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky

Origin: Craigellachie Distillery

Bottling: Langside; Hepburn’s Choice

ABV: 46%

Cost: £41.39 from Master of Malt

What they say:

8 year old Craigellachie single malt finished in a wine cask and bottled by Langside for the Hepburn’s Choice range. This was distilled in 2008 and bottled 8 years later in 2016 with an outturn of 293 bottles produced.

Nose:

Apricot, cashews, oat and dried red berries.

Palate:

Chocolate and red apples, with developing notes of red grapes and jammy blackcurrant.

Finish:

Touches of meaty malt and cranberry.

What I say:

Another 20cl bottle from the Hepburn’s choice range, this time an 8 year old Craigellachie finished in a wine (?) cask, providing an inexpensive taste of this usually slightly sulphuric Speyside distillery.

Colour:

Pale gold (4/20) large oily tears leave thick legs

Nose:

Light caramel or runny honey sweetness, citric lemon, biscuity barley, sulphur, matches, mixed unsalted nuts

Taste:

Vanilla, light caramel, citric and sweet lemon juice, sulphur, fireworks, struck matches, hints of red fruits, cranberry?

Finish:

Medium length, bitter oak wood and lemon, hints of sulphur linger

Overall:

Another sulphur dominant Craigellachie but not unpleasant, a distinct lack of other flavours/aromas to the same intensity had me questioning if this was a red or white wine cask finish as nothing dominated.

Score: 75/100

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