Crabbie 22 Years Old Orkney Single Malt Single Cask

1. What they say

A single cask 22-year-old single malt from John Crabbie & Co that was initially matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in a hand-selected Palo Cortado cask for six months, before being bottled in November 2021.

2. Official tasting notes

• Aromas of raisins, dried fruit, vanilla fudge, wild brambles and peppery smoke fill the nose, complemented by notes of berries and cream, caramel, toffee, dried fruit, dark chocolate, coffee, black pepper and lingering waves of smoke throughout the palate.

3. Details

• ABV 47.5%
• Age 22 Years Old
• Bottler Crabbie
• Bottling 1999 Single Cask
• Cask Bourbon Cask, Palo Cortado Finish
• Category Single malt scotch whisky
• Cost £160
• Origin Undisclosed Orkney distillery
• Region Islands, Scotland
• Released 2021

4. What I say

A single cask from an undisclosed Orkney distillery this was taken from its original ex-Bourbon cask and subjected to a finish period in Palo Cortado sherry by Crabbie’s Master Blender Kirstie McCallum. I first sampled this with Kirstie at SMWS The Vaults in Leith after a tour of Bonnington distillery and the local whisky history of Leith and surrounds with Kask whisky. The initial tasting was un-reduced so it was great to try it again at release strength to appreciate the final product.

5. The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

• Colour Dark orange gold (12/20) medium tears and long, fine legs.
• Nose Sweet, a touch chalky and fruity like Edinburgh Rock, leathery, salt, smoke, vanilla, apple and orange fruits, white hibiscus, white grapes and heathery peat smoke.
• Taste Medium-full bodied, chewy caramel, some salt and spice, vanilla fudge, rum & raisin ice cream, peppery heather honey, touch savoury with bbq sauce, sweet and fruity, peach, apricot and yellow plum.
• Finish Long with a lovely warmth, old leather books, fireplace, bbq bacon and red fruits.

6. Overall

Lovely oily, fruity, gently smoky and coastal with plenty of sweetness from the bourbon and sherry cask influences that work well with this distillery’s characteristic heathery smoke.

7. Score 86/100