A 15 year old Speysider in the form of this refill ex-bourbon barrel Craigellachie.
Nose: Highly expressive with honeysuckle and honeycomb joined by heavily reduced peaches, white bread, high quality custard and sunflowers. Running throughout – sack cloth, a bowl of cornflakes and a scattering of orange peels. The addition of water reveals a slightly more herbal complexion – cut grass, pressed flowers and orange marmalade spread on toast.
Taste: A solid weight with malty cereals and oatcakes joined by lemon verbena, pain aux chocolate and high-quality vanilla pods. Earthiness is expressed in the mid and back palates with wet soils, clays and alluvialness alongside gentle pepperiness, charred cask heads and woollen jumpers. Reduction offers highly typical Speyside-eque notes of honey and ripe bramley apples, yeasty buns and ginger snaps.
Finish: Medium with nicely balanced oakiness, pepper and residue cask char.
A communicative and well-defined Craigellachie that delivers exactly what one would expect from both the distillate and the region. Totally solid, nothing more, nothing less. Expect the expected.