I’m off to visit Craigellachie Distillery in the coming week, so now seems a great time to have a quick review of their official range which has been launched recently!
Here’s some of the official PR info, and at the bottom is my tasting notes of the range…
John Dewar & Sons Ltd. has unveiled a new range of proprietary bottlings from the Craigellachie distillery, bringing to light more of the hidden gems in its single malt portfolio, the ‘Last Great Malts’ of Scotland.
First off, here’s the news! Then below is my review…
Wemyss Malts is launching a new no-age statement, limited edition whisky called ‘Velvet Fig’ which comprises specially selected single mlats matured wholly in ex Oloroso sherry casks, evoking rich autumn and winter fruits and spices.
This is Wemyss’ first blended malt to be non-chill-filtered and bottled at 46% abv. It’s a limited release of 6000 bottles globally, available for around £40.
Secret Speyside 20 year old – Lady of the Glen – 52.3% ABVInfo: Distilled 17th October 1994, aged in refill Bourbon hogshead cask #1171. Bottled at cask strength, no colourings added & non-chill filtered.
Colour: Light golden yellow.
Nose: Quite dry nutty, with time there’s sweeter barley and fruits.
Palate: Easy going, very smooth for the fairly high ABV. Packed with oaky wood notes, coconut, hessian and then gentle fruit bowl sweetness.
Finish: Fresh bourbon sweetness on the reasonably long finish.
Thoughts: I have no guess on the distillery! It’s nice however, I like how easy going it is without need for water. The price seems reasonable.
Extras: Please note the bottle shot featured is a generic shot, no specific bottle shot was available at the time of posting.
Ben Nevis 16 year old – Lady of the Glen – 52.08% ABVInfo: Distilled 3rd December 1998, aged in Sherry Hogshead cask, #1407. Cask strength, no colouring added & non-chill filtered. 273 bottles.
Colour: Light straw… 2nd fill hogshead? Fino?
Nose: Packed with malty flavours and a slight salty fruitiness. Hints of tar. There’s a real toffee caramel note to this. A slight sparkling wine type nose.
Palate: Thick, instantly sweet and buttery, quite a wine like character.
Finish: Long, sweet, and enjoyable. Slight tannin wood sourness at the end.
Thoughts: I’ve seen a few great independant Ben Nevis bottlings and LotG seem to have managed to pick a great cask here. Water not needed!
Extras: Please note the bottle shot featured is a generic shot, no specific bottle shot was available at the time of posting.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ryder Cup Limited Edition – 40.0% ABVInfo: Diageo sponsored the 2014 Ryder Cup and released this special bottling of Johnnie Walker Blue Label to celebrate using some of their rarest stocks. It’s been around a wee while, but there’s still some about.
Colour: Golden with rusty orange tints.
Nose: There’s a fruity smokiness that leaps out of the glass, there’s old restrained oak and some sweetness. There’s a farm hint on the nose along with almonds. In general a very blended nose, nothing sticks out too far.
Palate: Buttery silk with a pinch of spices, it goes into a gentle sweetness with autumn fruits and hints of bonfire in the background. Surprisingly thick in the mouth considering the ABV (which indicates it’s chill filtered).
Finish: Gentle honied oak appears more strongly along with soft puffs of Highland smoke and a sweet warmth that spreads slowly over your chest.
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Octomore 6.3 Islay Barley – 2009 / 5yo – 64% abvInfo: The first Octomore distilled from 100% Islay barley. Grown and harvested by James Brown from Lorgba, a field on Octomore farm. A massive 258 PPM.
Colour: Fairly rich golden, autumn tints.
Nose: As ever you have those well known slightly briny deep engine oil tones that Bruichladdich is famous for, smokey barley and sweet citrus and oak notes, a background of marmalade. It becomes lighter and lighter over time with honeyed tones showing.
Palate: Really oily and rich with slightly sweet mossy peat tones. The high ABV does make it quite hot. The mossy tones seem more pronounced in this particular Octomore over previous versions, and I like them!
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Famous Grouse Commonwealth Games 2014 – Glenturret 28yo – 46.4% ABVInfo: A special bottling of 1986 Glenturret released for Glasgow’s hosting of the 2014 Commonwealth Games; the casks were filled when the Commonwealth Games were last in Scotland. Aged for 28 years before being bottled just before the event. 1800 bottles.
Colour: Light, bright golden.
Nose: A robust fruity nose, plenty of overripe bananas, fresh mangos and passion fruits. There’s gentle citrus notes and oak.
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