The Whiskyphiles

Craigellachie

Craigellachie Distillery

Craigellachie 13 Years Old

History The Craigellachie distillery was built in 1891 by Craigellachie Distillery Co. Limited, a group of blenders and merchants led by Alexander Edward. Two years later, it was incorporated as a limited company and in 1896 it was reconstructed as Craigellachie-Glenlivet Distillery Ltd. During the years that followed, ownership passed to Peter Mackie (in 1916), the Distillery Company Limited (in 1927) and SMD (in 1930). The transfer to SMD marked the beginning of a period of stability for Craigellachie; apartfrom a reconstruction in 1964-65 during which the number of pot stills was doubled, relatively little happened at the distillery. In 1998, it was sold to John Dewar & Sons. During its history, the distillery has released only a handful of official bottlings. The distillery’s product is currently primarily used for Dewar’s blended whisky. In 2015, Craigellachie 12 year and 15 year were released as part of the Dewar & Sons’ Last Great Malts of Scotland.

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

Official Bottling
  • Craigellachie 13 Years Old Craigellachie 13 Years Old (2015) – Craigellachie 13 Years Old (46%, OB, 2015) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 46% ABV, £41.95 for 70cl Score: 84/100 What they say: Craigellachie distillery sits nestled in the heart of Speyside atop a rock overlooking the confluence of two great rivers, the Fiddich and the Spey. The distillery was built by Peter Mackie and Alexander Edward in 1891 and […]
  • Craigellachie 17 Years Old Craigellachie 17 Years Old (2015) – Craigellachie 17 Years Old (46%, OB, 2015) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 46% ABV, £80.95 for 70cl Score: 85/100 What they say: Craigellachie distillery sits nestled in the heart of Speyside atop a rock overlooking the confluence of two great rivers, the Fiddich and the Spey. The distillery was built by Peter Mackie and Alexander Edward in 1891 and […]
  • Craigellachie 23 Years Old Craigellachie 23 Years Old (2015) – Craigellachie 23 Years Old (46%, OB, 2015) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 46% ABV, £330 for 70cl Score: 89/100 What they say: Craigellachie distillery sits nestled in the heart of Speyside atop a rock overlooking the confluence of two great rivers, the Fiddich and the Spey. The distillery was built by Peter Mackie and Alexander […]
Independent Bottling
Gleann Mor
  • craigellachie-12-year-old-2004-a-rare-find-gleann-mor-whisky Craigellachie 12 Years Old 2004 A Rare Find (2016) – Craigellachie 12 Year Old 2004 A Rare Find Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review: A real feisty dram full of Christmas spiced fruit punch on the palate but more classic spirit character on the nose. 85/100
Gordon & MacPhail
  • craigellachie-1997-bottled-2014-connoisseurs-choice-gordon-and-macphail-whisky Craigellachie 1997 Connoisseurs Choice (2016) – Craigellachie 1997 Connoisseurs Choice Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review: Very long, well-integrated flavours, a little fizzy and citric from the fruity and richly sulphuric spirit but with a dollop of good vanilla custard from the ex-bourbon oak casks. A nice weight to the body from the spirit character too – it is always nice to recognise familiar distillery elements, again suggestive of masterful maturation bringing the best from both spirit & cask. 84/100
Hunter Laing
  • craigellachie-18-year-old-1995-cask-10589-old-malt-cask-hunter-laing-whisky Craigellachie 18 Years Old 1995 Old Malt Cask (2020) – Craigellachie 18 Years Old 1995 Old Malt Cask Whisky Review: 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. 84/100
Langside
  • craigellachie-8-year-old-2008-hepburns-choice-langside-whisky Craigellachie 8 Years Old 2008 Hepburn’s Choice (2017) – Hepburn’s Choice Craigellachie 8 Years Old 2008 Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review: 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. 75/100
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
  • SMWS-NLtasting 03/02/2015 SMWS 44.63 Zesty, zingy and alive (2015) – Craigellachie 15 Years Old 1999 44.63 Zesty, zingy and alive (55.4%, SMWS, Refill Butt, 261 Bottles, 2014) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 55.4% ABV, £49.20 Score: 86/100 What they say: Cask 44.63 Colour: Pale straw Flavour: Light & delicate The nose was attractively light, citric and biscuity (vanilla, iced gems, creme Anglaise, cherry cola, stewed […]
Signatory
  • Craigellachie 13 Years Old 1999 Vintage Collection (2015) – Craigellachie 13 Years Old 1999 Vintage Collection (43%, Signatory, Bourbon Barrels #142 & 143, 637 Bottles, 2012) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 43% ABV, £36.67 for 70cl Score: 85/100 What they say: Distilled on the 30th August 1999, this is a 13 year old, bourbon barrel-matured Craigellachie. It was bottled for Signatory in September 2012. […]