Craigellachie was founded in 1891 at the confluence of the rivers Spey and Fiddich. Despite being owned by international spirits conglomerate Bacardi, it is operated by scotch giant Dewar & Sons, along with Royal Brackla, Aberfeldy, Aultmore, and Macduff. Craigellachie has predominantly used for blends throughout its life, but the distillery began offering a line of age statements in 2014, albeit not what might be considered industry norm for years. That diverting from the norms is something Craigellachiedoes not shy away from. The Craigellachie 17 Year offers no flashy story or gimmicks, it is simply a whisky aged a minimum of 17 years from a proudly unapologetic distillery, unafraid to embrace who they are.
Distillery: Craigellachie
Region: Speyside
Age: 17 years
Strength: 46%
Price: $149.99
Maturation: ex-bourbon casks
Location: Craigellachie
Nose: Perfume, floral, apple blossom, vinegar, honey, rye, apple cider, Asian pear
Palate: Brine, palm, pear, chocolate mint, pineapple, oak
Finish: Floral
Comments: Needs time in the glass to collect itself. Keep coming back to it. A few drops of water might do wonders, unexpectedly.
Adam – Sometimes I like to let a scotch sit in the glass for a while, as it can open up the nose and let everything congeal. On the other hand, I think too much is lost with time in the glass, unfortunately. Or rather, the oak becomes more prominent and I rather prefer the earlier cereal and fruit elements that get dialed back. The Craigellachie 17 is also a good example of how sometimes, age is not always a favor. I had fond memories of the Craigellachie 13 richness and broad array of flavors, and was looking forward to what another five years would add in terms of complexity and character. And I do find some great character in here, it just a markedly different one. And I have to work pretty damn hard to find it too. This is one of those whiskies where each sip can be a new experience, and half the time it is of an astringent or peppery quality. I don’t find the famous “meaty” element I appreciated in the 13 year; this one feels kind of thin. Fortunately or unfortunately, you can’t blame a whisky for not equaling your expectations. There are some fruits and sweets on display here, with a nice floral flourish at the finish. Again, I just wish the experience were consistent sip to sip.
Kate – Nose gets oakier as it sits in the glass, and the cereal notes fade. The mouthfeel is not oily; much more astringent than I expected! Spicy, oaky, watered down apple flavours, charred barrel, iodine with a hint of minerals. Peppery, apple, and more apple, creamed honey. Medium-long finish.
Bill – Big sherry nose, but not much presence of it – a la “sherry bombs.” Grows on me, but takes a little while to get there. Once it does….subtle apple/pear hide under astringency…
Like smelling a box of kid’s breakfast cereal
Henry – From the nose to the finish, there’s an underlying note of brine reminiscent of a coastal sherry. Apple blossom and Asian pear on the nose, with a tannic, oaky astringency on the palate which again hints of sherry, but sweeter. Cream sherry, perhaps?
Kristin – The Craigellachie 17 sweet, and has a complex aroma. I expect the taste to be sweet, and it threw me for a loop. I like the taste but it doesn’t match the smell.
Ben – I’m on board with the fact that it didn’t blast out right away. As you sit with it, it grew and grew. There is sweetness in the nose like smelling a box of kid’s breakfast cereal.
