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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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March 4, 2026 |
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Three 16-year-old Craigellachie |
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| (Visit Forres) |
It’s quite an original theme, don’t you think? What’s more, we’re even going to pit refill bourbon against first-fill Madeira and first-fill oloroso, just to make things interesting… |
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Craigellachie 16 yo 2009/2025 (54.4%, Tri Carragh, 2nd fill bourbon barrel, 125 bottles) 
Colour: pale gold. Nose: beautiful, very pure, on vanilla, vanilla yoghurt, and vanilla custard. A few touches of quince and apricot compote in the background. With water: a small slice of lemon cake also emerges in the background. A little chalk as well. Otherwise it does not move an inch. Mouth (neat): fine tension from the arrival, on lemon and green apple, with touches of acacia honey to soften the whole, some pilsner-style beer, and of course our friend vanilla. With water: teas and herbal infusions from the cask begin to show. Finish: medium length but with a greater variety of fruits, quince returns, accompanied by peach and apricot. Comments: this cask was re-racked recently. Re-racking into a 2nd fill, that suits me perfectly. Very much to my taste indeed, even if it is not ultra-distinctive.
SGP:551 - 86 points. |
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Craigellachie 16 yo 2009/2025 (55.6%, Signatory Vintage, Cask Strength Collection, 1st fill Madeira hogshead finish, cask #211, 306 bottles)
A sister cask, #205, had been very good (WF 86). Colour: partridge eye, very slightly pinkish. Nose: the vinosity is pronounced, with blackcurrant, crushed pepper, leather, tobacco, mustard and bay leaf. Then a little saltpetre and fig leaf. With water: it is really much drier than the bourbon version, we are heading towards a very dry amontillado. Mouth (neat): walnut rules the roost, alongside tobacco and mustard. It is very marked, but we like it a great deal. With water: raisins come to the fore, the pepper is still there, the tobacco too, some paprika… And walnuts and bitter almonds. Finish: long, on exactly the same notes. Comments: I find that it has emerged very well after the very good refill bourbon. I reread my notes for the sister cask and realise that they are truly very close, no reason to assign a different score.
SGP:561 - 86 points. |
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Craigellachie 16 yo 2007/2024 ‘100 proof edition #4’ (57.1%, Signatory Vintage, Exceptional Cask, 1st fill oloroso sherry butt)
Colour: gold. Nose: earth, potting soil, nocino, brown tobacco, dark chocolate, molasses, toffee and orange blossom water. Not much to discard. With water: I know that soon I may no longer be able to risk this kind of descriptor without ending up in gaol for ten years, but I do find notes here of English cigarette packs from the 1980s, such as Senior Service or Craven “A”. Mouth (neat): rich, almost heavy, yet with a pepper, tobacco and walnut liqueur combination that is just perfect. All the more so as the expected notes of very bitter orange marmalade and fir honey join in. With water: softer, fruitier, more on raisins and, truth be told, more PX than oloroso. Perhaps some old-style ‘cream’? I doubt it, in any case it is excellent. Finish: long, rich, yet also fresh and joyful, a small miracle indeed. Comments: a shade above the others for me. It should behave very well in the cellar, for two or three decades.
SGP:661 - 87 points. |
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