The Electric Coo Series 27 Years

“Watts in a Name”

Whisky Review # 987

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Undisclosed

Brand: The Electric Coo Series

Produced, Matured and Bottled By/For: Campbeltown Whisky Company Ltd. (CWCL)

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: 27 Years - Distilled: 1993 - Bottled: 2020

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 42.1%
Maturation: Re-Fill Ex-Sherry Butt

Chill Filtration: No

Price: Around US$ 85 (April 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good
Buying Advice: 😐 More interesting than your average Blend. A bit Thin though.

Colour: Golden Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The Nose is pleasant albeit a little thin considering its age. It's well-matured though and the Alcohol is nicely integrated. Both the Grain(Glue) and the Re-Fill Sherry Cask (Dried Fruits and Nuts) make themselves known. No Off-Notes to be found and no Sulphur as well. The Nose is mainly Sweet with a few Sour, Mineral and slightly Bitter notes for balance.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Grain, Malted Barley, Caramel, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Apricots, Figs and Prunes, Fruitcake, Mixed Nuts, Red Berries and Cherries, Milk Chocolate, Citrus Peel (Orange and Lemon), Glue, Coconut, Dusty Casks, Cinnamon, Tobacco & Leather.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Buttered Toast, Syrup, Sugar, Toffee, Vanilla, Wet Rocks, Grass, Cafe Latte, Sweet White Wine, Apple Vinegar, Toasted Pineapple, Pepper, Nutmeg and Licorice.

Campbeltown

Palate:

Mostly Sweet with a few Sour and Mineral notes and a light Bitterness for balance. It's a bit on the Thin side and a slightly higher ABV would have helped here. It's not bad but a bit Rough and Sharp when compared to the Nose.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Grain Alcohol, Malted Barley, Caramel, Honey, Red Berries, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Figs, Prunes and Apricots, Mixed Nuts, Grapefruit, Citrus Peel (Orange and Lemon), Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg, Tobacco and Leather.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Toffee, Vanilla, Grass, Wax, Buttered Toast, Dark Cherries, Glue, Nail Polish, Caffe Latte, Coconut, Milk Chocolate, Fruitcake, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves and Licorice.

Finish:

Short/Middle Long and a little Thin. A mix of Sweet and Sour notes with only a very mild Bitterness towards the Medium Dry end. Quite a bit of Spice now from the cask. I also find Sweet Grain, Malted Barley, Brown Sugar, Caramel, Grass, Yeast, Dried Fruit like Prunes, Figs Sultanas and Apricots, Red Berry-Flavored Yogurt, Glue, Nail Polish, Mixed Nuts, Caffee Latte, Cocoa Powder, Grapefruit, Lemon, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Cloves, Leather, Tobacco and light Licorice.

Drinking Advice:

This Blend does not improve with added Water.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 8 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

A few of my loyal readers have pointed out that every once in a while my final Rating note did not seem to be totally in line with the written text. I recognize that. When I started this Whisky Blog back in 2011, I was not at all experienced in tasting and scoring Single Malts & Blends. Looking back I realize that during the early years I probably scored the good Whiskies too low and the not so good Whiskies too high. Ever since the beginning I try to remain consequent in my rating, always comparing the outcome to the rating of comparable whiskies in terms of quality and taste and adjusting the final rating if necessary. This might lead to the discrepancy I mentioned before. As a result I have decided to use a new rating system this year. I will still give a rating for Nose, Taste and Finish but now on the scale from 1-10 whereby 1 represents the worst and 10 the best. The sum of these numbers will be divided by 3 to get the rounded final score. I hope this new scoring makes it easier for you to understand what I thought about the whisky I'm reviewing.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink. Please let me know what you think of the new rating system and leave your comments and/or suggestions.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion:

The Electric Coo Series have been developed by CWCL. This company was founded by Mark Watt (Ex-Cadenhead) and David Stirk (Ex-The Creative Whisky Company), good friends who have been active in the industry for a long time. A Stirk is a name for a Young Cow and we all know Watt as related to Electricity. Each of the two has selected 3 casks for this series. It's a well-hidden secret as to what distilleries form part of this Blend. North British (Grain) and the Edrington Group that a.o. owns the Single Malt Distilleries Macallan, Highland Park and Glenrothes have been mentioned as possible candidates. In any case I do believe that this Blend contains a little more Malt than the usual 30%.

Good initiative by Mark and David. No Caramel, no Chill-Filtration and a blend that is better than today's average Blended Whisky. And sold at an acceptable Price level when considered its age. You know I'm Dutch by birth so there's always gonna be a But. In this case I think the relatively low ABV does not do justice to the Blend. At 46% this would have been much better. It would be a bit more expensive of course but I would gladly pay the extra bucks. In any case I look forward to try more of these series if I can find them.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                           April 28, 2023

Cadenhead Shop, Campbeltown

Johnnie Walker Black Sherry Finish

“Black Is Not Black”

Whisky Review # 986

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Brand: Johnnie Walker Black Sherry Finish
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: 12 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Probably a mix of mostly Ex-Bourbon casks & some Sherried Wood

Finish: Casks seasoned with Sherry from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 25-35 (April 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍
Buying Advice: 👍 if you are looking for a Sweeter and less Smoky Black Label

Colour: Amber with shades of Red and Orange (Artificially Colored)

Nose:

Sweet and Pleasant but even less Smoky than the standard Black. The Grain Alcohol remains dominant but the Sherry influence is clear with Dark Berries, Dried Fruits and Nuts.

Main Aromas:

Grain Alcohol, Toasted Grain, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Grass and Straw, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Dates, Plums, Apricots and Figs, Dark Berries & Cherries, Orange Peel, Mixed Nuts and Nut Shells, Dark Chocolate, Earthy Peat, Dusty Oak, Cinnamon and Pepper.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Sweet Barley, Honey, Vanilla, Buttered Toast, Brown Sugar, Rum, Dusty Track, Dark Chocolate, Smoke, Ginger, Aniseed, Tobacco and hints of Licorice and Ashes.

Cardhu Distillery

Palate:

Despite the Sweet influence of the Sherried casks, this JW Blend can't hide the fact that the principal component is Grain Whisky. It's a pity that no one, at least in an official way, has tested a blend with a 50/50 Grain/Malt content and an ABV of 43%. That might be a stunner! As it is the Palate basically follows the Nose with a mix of Dried Fruit, Nuts, Spices and Grain.

Main Flavours:

Grain Alcohol, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Brown Sugar, Dried Fruit like Prunes, Dates, Figs, Apricots, Raisins and Prunes, Cherry-Flavored Cough Syrup, Mixed Nuts, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Orange Peel, Cinnamon, Ginger and Pepper.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Honey, Red Berries, Green Vegetables, Dusty Track, Earthy Peat, Smoke, Ashes, Tobacco, Cardamom, Licorice, Espresso and Menthol.

 

Cameronbridge Grain Distillery

Finish:

Short/Middle Long with a slightly Sharp Grain Alcohol Kick. Mostly Sweet but with a little Bitterness towards the Medium Dry/Dry end. I also find Grain Alcohol, Toasted Grain, Salted Caramel, Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Toffee, Honey, Dried Fruit like Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Dates & Figs, Cherry-Flavored Cough Syrup, Dark Chocolate, Mixed Nuts, Herbs, Dusty Road, Earthy Peat, Smoke, Ashes, Tobacco, Cinnamon, Pepper, Cardamon, Dusty Oak, Herbs and Espresso.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and although the Blend becomes dangerously easy to drink, you also miss most of the Aromas and Flavors. But in all honesty, this Blend is not interesting enough as a sipping Whisky. It's nice on the Rocks though.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

A few of my loyal readers have pointed out that every once in a while my final Rating note did not seem to be totally in line with the written text. I recognize that. When I started this Whisky Blog back in 2011, I was not at all experienced in tasting and scoring Single Malts & Blends. Looking back I realize that during the early years I probably scored the good Whiskies too low and the not so good Whiskies too high. Ever since the beginning I try to remain consequent in my rating, always comparing the outcome to the rating of comparable whiskies in terms of quality and taste and adjusting the final rating if necessary. This might lead to the discrepancy I mentioned before. As a result I have decided to use a new rating system this year. I will still give a rating for Nose, Taste and Finish but now on the scale from 1-10 whereby 1 represents the worst and 10 the best. The sum of these numbers will be divided by 3 to get the rounded final score. I hope this new scoring makes it easier for you to understand what I thought about the whisky I'm reviewing.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink. Please let me know what you think of the new rating system and leave your comments and/or suggestions.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Good

Conclusion:

Johnnie Walker Black Label Sherry Finish is made with Grain Whisky from Lowland Distillery Cameronbridge and Single Malts from a/o Cardhu, Clynelish, Glenkinchie and Caol Ila.

It's not a bad Blend and a good Start for beginning Whisky Drinkers that want to explore the Smoky side but in an easy way. The best way to enjoy this Blend is over Ice. The standard Black is still my to-go-to Blend because of its good Price/Quality ratio. I like it better than this Sherry Finish as it presents a bit more Smoke & Peat from Caol Ila. But in case you prefer it a bit more Sweet & less Smoky, this Sherry Finish might just be the Blend for you.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                           April 12, 2023

Caol Ila

The Irishman 17 Years

(Or Similar Bottle)

“Painter Man”

Whisky Review # 985

Country: Ireland 🇮🇪

Brand: The Irishman

Matured and Bottled by/for: Walsh Whiskey Distillery Ltd.

Distilled at: Probably Midleton and/or Bushmills - Triple Distilled
Type: Single Malt Single Cask Whiskey - Cask #: Unknown - Around 600 Bottles

Age: 17 Years (2001-2018)

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 56% (Around Cask Strength)
Maturation: First Fill Sherry Butt

Chill Filtration: No

Sample provided by Jan from The Netherlands. Many Thanks!

Price Range: US$ 110-130 (April 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Borderline Okay
Buying Advice: 😐 Not my thing but if you like Varnished Dried Fruits go for it 😉

Colour: Dark Amber with shades of Brown and Orange (Natural Color)

Nose:

Full, Matured and Sweet. In a Blind Tasting I would have guessed it to be older. The Sherry Cask influence is very clear with loads of Dried Fruit, Nuts, Toffee & Spices. Christmas is in the Air. The Alcohol is noticeable but well-integrated.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Malted Barley, Toffee, Caramel, German Butter Biscuits, Nuts, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Plums, Prunes and Dates, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Cinnamon, Pepper, Ginger and Cloves.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Honey, Port Wine, Straw, Brandy, Puff Pastry filled with Peach or Apricot, Marzipan, Nougat, Maraschino Cherries, Dusty Earth, Wood Polish, Tobacco, Coffee Beans and Menthol/Mint.

Palate:

Heavy, Oily and Thick. Very Sweet. The Alcohol burns a bit. Sour and Bitter notes develop to balance things out. The Cask influence is very strong and the Spirit feels older than it really is. The Varnish note is quite present and spoils the party a bit. A bit of Sulphur is around as well.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Toffee, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Plums, Dates and Apricots, Dark Red and Purple Berries, Roasted Nuts, Dark Chocolate, Orange Liqueur, Dusty Oak, Polished Wood, Floral Soap, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Mint and Ginger.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Vanilla, Honey, Straw, Nougat, Espresso, Creme de Cassis, Grapefruit, Overripe Banana, Lemon, Nutmeg, Licorice and Cloves.

Finish:

Middle-Long, Thick and quite Sweet. The Alcohol kicks and remains in your throat for a while together with a Varnish note I don't really like. A bit of Sourness and Bitterness towards the Dry end. I also find Roasted Barley, Toffee, Brown Sugar, Molasses, Vanilla, Honey, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Apricots & Plums, Dark Red Berries, Grapefruit, Gooseberries, Nuts, Dusty Oak, Dark Chocolate, Mint, Herbs, Orange Liqueur, Tobacco, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Cloves, Aniseed, Floral Soap and Licorice.

Drinking Advice:

Due to the size of the sample I only tasted this Irishman neat. I would guess though that a little Water would benefit this Single Malt.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

A few of my loyal readers have pointed out that every once in a while my final Rating note did not seem to be totally in line with the written text. I recognize that. When I started this Whisky Blog back in 2011, I was not at all experienced in tasting and scoring Single Malts & Blends. Looking back I realize that during the early years I probably scored the good Whiskies too low and the not so good Whiskies too high. Ever since the beginning I try to remain consequent in my rating, always comparing the outcome to the rating of comparable whiskies in terms of quality and taste and adjusting the final rating if necessary. This might lead to the discrepancy I mentioned before. As a result I have decided to use a new rating system this year. I will still give a rating for Nose, Taste and Finish but now on the scale from 1-10 whereby 1 represents the worst and 10 the best. The sum of these numbers will be divided by 3 to get the final score. I hope this new scoring makes it easier for you to understand what I thought about the whisky I'm reviewing.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink. Please let me know what you think of the new rating system and leave your comments and/or suggestions.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion:

The Walsh Whiskey company was founded as Hot Irishman Ltd in 1999 by Bernard & Rosemary Walsh. In 2006 the company signed a long-term supply agreement with a distillery for the distilling and maturation of Irish Whiskey to their specifications. The Irishman blend was launched in 2007 followed by Writer's Tears in 2009. In 2014 the construction of Royal Oak distillery (Carlow) was started in a partnership with Lllva Saronno, the Italian drinks giant. The distillery started production in 2016. Unfortunately the partnership with Lllva Saronno as well as the involvement with the Royal Oak distillery ended a few years ago as the partners differed with respect to the development of the distillery in the future. I would not be surprised if the dispute was about the concept of Craft Distillery Vs. Global Whiskey Producer. Most likely, the Whiskey for the Walsh Brand is currently being distilled by Middleton and/or Bushmills.

I was looking forward to this one as it's one of my first fully-matured Irish Single Malts. Fully matured indeed as you would probably give it more than 17 years. The Sherry Cask influence is very strong and overpowers the Spirit. The Alcohol is very pungent and there's a Varnish-like off note that I don't like. I'm sure many people will like this type of Whiskey and it's not really bad but it's not my thing. It smells like Christmas but on the Palate and in the Finish I got images of a Painter disguised as Santa Claus 😎

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                            April 7, 2023

Grant's Triple Wood

“Mixed Emotions”

Whisky Review # 984

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Bottled and Produced By: William Grant & Sons Distillers Ltd., Dufftown

Brand: Grant's Triple Wood
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Bottling Serie: Stand Fast

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Mix of American Oak, Virgin Oak and Bourbon Re-Fill Casks

Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 10-15 (March 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 It's quite cheap indeed
Buying Advice: 😐 Not good enough for sipping but okay on the Rocks or mixed

Colour: Golden with shades of Orange (Artificially Colored)

Nose:

The typical Sweet smell of relatively cheap Blended Whisky. It's driven by Grain Alcohol, Caramel and musty Re-Fill casks. It's on the Thin side, Young and slightly Hot. Cheap Slivovitz come to mind.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Grain Alcohol, Toast and Margarine, Caramel, Toffee, Straw, Musty Casks & Sawdust, Artificially-Flavored Candies (Green Apple, Cherry, Orange & Pineapple), Pepper, Menthol and Cinnamon.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Mixed Dried Fruit and Nuts (Sultanas, Raisins, Walnuts), Cooked Vegetables, Compost, Insect Killer with Lemon Aroma, Nutmeg and Charred Oak.

Girvan Grain Distillery

Palate:

Young, Thin and a little Sharp. A mix of Sweet and Bitter notes with a pinch of Salt for good measure. This is Whisky for drinking and not for sipping.

Main Flavours:

Grain Alcohol, Salted Caramel, Toffee, Artificially-Flavored Candies (See Nose), Oak Char and Sawdust, Pepper, Menthol, Nutmeg and Ginger.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Honey, Brown Sugar, Banana, Lemon, Dried Herbs, Sultanas, Slivovitz, White Chocolate, Earth, Tobacco and Cinnamon.

Kininvie Distillery

Finish:

Thin, Short and a little Hot. Sugary Sweet at first but with a light Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. I find Grain Alcohol, Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Toffee, Sugar, Marshmallow, Honey, Artificially-flavored Candies (See Nose), Musty Casks and Char, Earth, Straw, Sultanas, Slivovitz, Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon and Nutmeg. Very faint hint of Horse Saddles. 

Drinking Advice:

Added Water kills this Blend. The best way to enjoy this Blend is on the Rocks or as a basis for a mixed drink, for instance with Coca Cola.

Rating: 5.5 (*****1/2)

Nose: 6 - Taste: 5.5 - Finish: 5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

A few of my loyal readers have pointed out that every once in a while my final Rating note did not seem to be totally in line with the written text. I recognize that. When I started this Whisky Blog back in 2011, I was not at all experienced in tasting and scoring Single Malts & Blends. Looking back I realize that during the early years I probably scored the good Whiskies too low and the not so good Whiskies too high. Ever since the beginning I try to remain consequent in my rating, always comparing the outcome to the rating of comparable whiskies in terms of quality and taste and adjusting the final rating if necessary. This might lead to the discrepancy I mentioned before. As a result I have decided to use a new rating system this year. I will still give a rating for Nose, Taste and Finish but now on the scale from 1-10 whereby 1 represents the worst and 10 the best. The sum of these numbers will be divided by 3 to get the rounded final score. I hope this new scoring makes it easier for you to understand what I thought about the whisky I'm reviewing.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink. Please let me know what you think of the new rating system and leave your comments and/or suggestions.

Drinking Experience Neat: Marginally Okay

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay/Good, albeit a little Thin.

Conclusion:

This Triple Wood replaces the Family Reserve as Grant's main Blended Whisky. The Blend most likely contains Girvan Grain Whisky and Malt Whisky from Glenfiddich, Kininvie and perhaps a drop of Balvenie.

I have tasted lots of cheap Blends in the meantime and this is certainly not the worst one. But it's still Young, Thin, Hot and without convincing Aromas & Flavors. Therefore it's not good enough as a sipping whisky but it's not bad on the Rocks or in mixed drinks. I prefer this Grant's over JW Red.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                        March 29, 2023

Glenfiddich Distillery

Craigellachie 17 Years

 

“Hot Legs”

Whisky Review # 983

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: Craigellachie
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 17 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: Mix of Re-Fill Ex-Bourbon Casks and Sherried Wood

Finish: 50% in First-Fill Bourbon casks and 50% in First-Fill Sherry Casks
Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 90-110 (March 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay if you can score it at around 80 US Dollars
Buying Advice: 😐 Plain & too much Alcohol Burn for my liking but that's just me!

Colour: Light Amber (Natural Color)

Nose:

Please give this Craigellachie some time in the glass before Nosing. It opens up a bit slowly and the initial wafts of Alcohol are quite strong. As always avoid sticking your nose in the middle of your glass. The Nose is not very complicated and the Sherry cask influence is clear. As a result, Malt and loads of Dried - (Dark) Red Fruits lead the way. Some are Sweet and some slightly Sour. There's a bit of Sulphur in the air but it doesn't really bother me. All in all not bad but a bit plain.

Main Aromas:

Malted Barley, Buttered Toast, Caramel, Vanilla, Bread Dough, Dried Fruit such as Raisins, Apricots, Figs and Plums, Dark Red Fruit (Berries, Cherries), Slightly Sour Citrus (Orange, Mandarin, Lemon), Bounty Bars, Grass, Dusty Charred Oak, Mint & Cinnamon.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Wax, Green Apple, Pear, Mango, Marzipan, Nougat, Pepper, Green Herbs and hints of Meadow Flowers, Licorice, Metal coins and Glue.

Palate:

This is my first Craigellachie Distillery bottling. I had a few Indie bottles in the past but none of them were very convincing. And this official 17 years won't make me a huge fan of Craigellachie Single Malt as well. But it's strong and powerful and as such quite suitable for Blended Whisky. On the Palate the 17 years is quite a Power House with lots of Malt and Alcohol. You would expect a much higher ABV in a blind tasting. The Palate presents a mix of Sweet, Sour, Bitter and Salty notes and I identify the same main drivers as on the Nose. The Sulphur is more noticeable now  but it's not too bad.

Main Flavours:

Malted Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Dough, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Apricots and Plums, Dark Berries and Cherries, Bitter Orange, Grass, Dusty Charred Oak, Butter, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Mint.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Toffee, Honey, Toast, Pear, Lemon, Grapefruit, Toasted Pineapple, Gooseberry, Nuts, Herbal Tea, Dark Chocolate, Dairy, Raw Meat, Cloves, Ginger and Licorice. A hint of Leather.

Finish:

Middle-Long and a bit Hot. Sweet at First but with developing Sour and Salty notes and increasing Bitterness towards the Dry end. The Sulphur is a bit more noticeable now but stays within limits. I basically find Toasted Barley, Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Toffee, Wax, Dough, Honey, Dusty Charred Oak, Orange-flavored Bitter Chocolate, Lemon, Grapefruit, Dark Berries, Cherry-Flavored Cough Syrup, Toasted Pineapple, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Cloves, Mint, Nuts, Strong Espresso and hints of Artificial Sweetener, Raw Meat, Milk and Licorice.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little water and that kills most of the unwanted Alcohol Heat. On the Nose it does become Malt Juice much like Cardhu. Palate & Finish improve with the Water however so my advise is to add a little bit.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

A few of my loyal readers have pointed out that every once in a while my final Rating note did not seem to be totally in line with the written text. I recognize that. When I started this Whisky Blog back in 2011, I was not at all experienced in tasting and scoring Single Malts & Blends. Looking back I realize that during the early years I probably scored the good Whiskies too low and the not so good Whiskies too high. Ever since the beginning I try to remain consequent in my rating, always comparing the outcome to the rating of comparable whiskies in terms of quality and taste and adjusting the final rating if necessary. This might lead to the discrepancy I mentioned before. As a result I have decided to use a new rating system this year. I will still give a rating for Nose, Taste and Finish but now on the scale from 1-10 whereby 1 represents the worst and 10 the best. The sum of these numbers will be divided by 3 to get the rounded final score. I hope this new scoring makes it easier for you to understand what I thought about the whisky I'm reviewing.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink. Please let me know what you think of the new rating system and leave your comments and/or suggestions.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion:

The Craigellachie Distillery was founded around 1890/91 and is located between Craigellachie and Aberlour in Banffshire. Since 1998 it's owned by John Dewar & Sons, part of Bacardi. The core range includes the 13, 17, 23  and 33 Years. Most of the production disappears in the Dewar's Blends. The annual production currently amounts to 4.1 million litres. During our trip to Scotland in May 2014 we passed the Distillery. Unfortunately it's not open to the public.

As said above, this was my first tasting of a Single Malt that is part of the recent core range of this Distillery. I think they are on the right track with respect to their Single Malt profile but they are not quite there yet. The Spirit is quite Powerful so it needs very precise cask- and spirit safe management to extract the best of it. This 17 Years is way too Hot and Nervous for its age in my opinion. It's not really bad but I would not buy a full bottle for the time being. 

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                        March 23, 2023