Craigellachie 18 Years Old 1995 Old Malt Cask (50%, Hunter Laing, Shery Butt #10589, 730 Bottles, 2014)

• ABV: 50%
• Age: 18 Years Old
• Bottling: Hunter Laing, Old Malt Cask, Sherry Butt #10589
• Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
• Cost: £75.95
• Origin: Craigellachie distillery
• Vintage: 1995

What they say

18 year old Craigellachie single malt Scotch whisky, released as part of the Old Malt Cask range by Hunter Laing. This Sherried Speysider was distilled back in November 1995 and left to mature in Sherry butt #10589 until June 2014. It was then bottled at 50% ABV with an outturn of 730 bottles.

Official tasting notes:

• Nose: Sweetly mellow, with vanilla, poached fruits and citrus peel.
• Palate: Rich, smooth, full bodied with vanilla, raisins and liqourice.
• Finish: Long and dry with a sweet hint of sherry.

What I say

Drawn by the colour of this 18 year old Craigellachie which displays its sherry butt maturation very well. Bottled by Hunter Laing as part of the Old Malt Cask range at 50% ABV in 2014.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Dark autumnal amber (14/20), medium-large tears and strong legs.
• Nose: Funky and fruity, orange peel, a little candied/preserved, raisins, sticky toffee pudding, some leather and some meaty funkiness/sulphur.
• Taste: Toffee and oak wood, butterscotch, dried fruits, raisins, fruit cake, red fruits, hazelnut and almond/marzipan.
• Finish: Long, orange citrus peels return, drying leather, oak wood and dried fruits.

Overall

A well-sherried Craigellachie which still retains a little of that meaty sulphur and citrus peel spirit nature too, as a lover of heavily-sherried malts this one appealed to more than just my eye.

Score 84/100

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