Sherry lovers rejoice – the Society have definitely got you covered this month with a Craigellachie that’s spent 13 years in an oloroso butt before being reracked for yet more sherry – into a 1st fill moscatel hogshead. View on SMWS
Nose: Tons of sherried depths with figs, prunes and raisins sitting with a slice of chocolate cake. Old tanned leather and balsamic sharpness are joined by burnt honeycomb, toffee sauce and a cork pin board. Not everything here is dark and foreboding – toasted marshmallows and Chantilly cream softens things up and provides some pleasant lightness. Reduction introduces a well-made tiramisu, peanut brittle and walnut bread.
Taste: Plenty of rounded sherried fruitiness here – red berries (raspberry and cherries) merge with plums, damsons and an assortment of air-dried fruits. Cocoa powder and chocolate nibs are served with toffee sauce, maple syrup and a selection of leather goods. In the mid-palate, spices poke through, cinnamon and nutmeg – delicate, supportive and in no ways distracting. Water leads to a more expansive palate – orange peels, marzipan and walnuts added to the mix.
Finish: Medium to long in length with dusty cinnamon spicing, and an almost mentholated kick of chocolate.
This well-sherried Craigellachie doesn’t disappoint – whilst there’s plenty of rich depths, there’s also a good whack of bright sugars and fruits. The end result manages to somehow straddle the divide between lively and cavernous. This brings balance to the force.