Whisky: Craigellachie 17 Year SMWS 44.143 “Good traditional fare”

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 57%

Cask: Bourbon Hogshead (15Y), First Fill STR Oloroso Barrique (2Y)

Age: 17 Years (Distilled 17 Mar. 2003)

Nose: Spicy and floral, violets, cardamon, Turkish delight, Nutter Butters, caramelized fruits, fragrant pipe tobacco.

Palate: Medium-bodied, tobacco, caramel candies, dried fruits, waxy, Pixy sticks.  With water peanut butter cookies and chocolate with violet candies at the end.

Finish: Long and lingering with herbal tobacco, oak, and chocolate.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Hookah Lounge Fruit Board

Narrative & Notes: Spicy and floral with a wonderfully rich undercurrent of tobacco, the aroma left me imagining Nutter Butters and Nilla Wafers served with caramelized fruit pastries in a hookah bar. Floral notes of violets and rosewater joined with fragrant cardamon and Turkish delight. The palate was medium-bodied with rich notes of tobacco, caramel, fruit, and subtle florals. Memories of hookah lounges drifted in front of me along with Pixy sticks and candy cigarettes (how were those ever a thing) as fruity sugars with hints of paper and wax appeared. A few drops of water brought out the peanut butter cookies and chocolate that had appeared on the nose with floral violet candies lingering at the end. The finish was long with herbal tobacco notes, oaky dryness, and chocolate.

The finishing cask, a shaved toasted and re-charred oloroso barrique, heightened the herbal quality of the Craigellachie spirit and pushed it toward rich tobacco. I thought the finish was a tad aggressive, but all told quite successful. The aroma had a pleasant floral note that linked together spice, tobacco, and peanut butter cookies— all of which reappeared at various points on the palate.

Overall, a cohesive, delicious, and well-structured Craigellachie. Despite my inclinations against aggressive cask finishes, I really enjoyed this one.