Craigellachie Small Batch 33 Year Old Limited Release Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Timeless elegance in every precious drop

Nestled in the heart of Speyside, the Craigellachie Distillery has been crafting whisky with a bold, robust character since 1891. Its timeless methods, including the use of rare worm tub condensers, imbue its spirits with muscular depth and a signature hint of pineapple. Revered as "old fashioned" yet exceptional, Craigellachie creates whiskies that delight connoisseurs seeking distinctive flavor and heritage.

The Craigellachie 33 Year Old Small Batch Limited Release is the epitome of craftsmanship, matured for over three decades in the finest oak casks. This rare expression boasts a radiant amber hue and an exquisite nose of ripe orchard fruits, honey, and oak spice. On the palate, layers unfold with caramel, dried fruits, and delicate smokiness. With its velvety texture and a finish that lingers beautifully, this whisky is a collector's treasure, a true celebration of rarity and refinement.

The Craigenllachie website proudly says that their Whisky is "meanty, with a touch of brimstone" and if you don't like it you should move on. So what gives?

Brimstone is another word for sulpher, right? Well, a lot of stills and other distillation equipment is made of copper for a reason. When fermenting grains - especially barley - loose sulpher molecules are release left alone, these taste really bad - like rotten hardboiled eggs. Copper acts like a catalyst that helps the sulpher react with other chemical compounds until it improves the flavor as opposed to hurting it.

Most distillers think the more copper the better. But at Craigenllachie they cut down the amount of copper is the cooling tubs. This means that the is still a bit of sulpher floating around, and you can taste it. It's just enough to add a rich "meat-like" note to the Whisky, but not so much that it becomes unpleasant.

When properly aged, the lighter, fuit notes of a classic Highlander come more forward and you will still get a litttle toffee and cream. But the complexity and unique flavor has been known to inspire some to call it "chewy" as well.