Craigellachie 15 Year SMWS 44.110 “Treasure Trove”
Whisky : Craigellachie 15 Year SMWS 44.110 “Treasure Trove”
Country/Region : Scotland/Speyside
ABV : 59.4%
Cask : New Oak Hogshead, Heavy Char
Age : 15 Years (Distilled 27 June 2003)
Nose : Fresh cut pumpkin or kabocha, chopped celery, a dash of celery salt, and a handful of dried herbs— this dram is some sort of autumn recipe waiting to be put together. Fruity root beer sarsaparilla, a bit of graphite, and some faintly medicinal notes provide some intriguing complexity. A Jack-O-Lantern: a carved pumpkin, fresh Autumn air, and the faint bit of smoke rising off the flickering candle.
Palate : Beautifully palate coating waxy body. Heaps of berries and stone fruits roll out of the glass: raspberries, cherries, plums, and apricots. There are touches of indistinct spices, sweet graham, and a bit of musty grape skin. A dash of water brings out fruity notes and a bit of starchy banana.
Finish : Medium length sweet fruit syrup, brown sugar, molasses, grape jelly, and tamoe ame— a corn syrup soaked sticky rice candy.
Score : 6
Mental Image : Jack-O-Lantern; a few days old, a bit dry, still sweet, the candle burning low.
Something Better : Amrut Peated CS (similar chimney smoke, more tropical fruit, more distinct Fall spices)
Something Similar : Compass Box No Name 1st Ed. (More smoke, but similar drying leaves, clean flavor notes)
Something Worse : Craigellachie 13 Year (similar autumn air of faint smoke and drying leaves)
Notes : There have been a number of drams who have had the effect of transporting me back to the Autumns of my youth. None has quite taken me back to the week of Halloween so specifically. There are all sorts of lovely nostalgic Fall notes that come through, from the chopped vegetables to the baking spices to the wispy smoke. I found the palate on this one to be absolutely enchanting and while the palate did not quite have the same defined flavor notes or distinctiveness, it was still harmonious. Craigellachie can have such a lovely waxy mouthfeel— a product perhaps of their unique worm-tubs.
This was a solid lightly peated Speyside, excellent straight up or with a few drops of water. Individual preference will guide as to whether or not it is worth adding a few drops of water and sacrificing the bouquet of spices to bring out the fruity and starchy notes. I could have it either way though I consumed most of this straight up, it was just so easy to drink and packed with juicy berries. I enjoy sipping the standard Craigellachie 13Y on the rocks when the days are long and the nights are hot— I have not tried this dram in that fashion, but I am certainly tempted to use my last little bit to just see how it would be.
