Craigellachie 10 Year (2007) Valinch & Mallet Cask 17-3111
Whisky: Craigellachie 10 Year (2007) Valinch & Mallet Cask 17-3111
Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside
ABV: 48.8%
Cask: Bourbon Hogshead
Age: 10 Years (Distilled 2007, Bottled 2017)
Nose: Lemon, pine, herbal, fresh citrus scented wood cleaner or polish, effervescent at times with lime and fermented sugarcane, grassy sweetness with hints of muddle mint and thyme, woody and antiseptic.
Palate: Medium-bodied, herbal and citrusy, slightly acidic with honey and lemon juice, herbal tea, muddled mint and thyme-infused simple syrup, grassy sugar cane, oak, and yellowed papers, more citrus, slightly antiseptic, spirited tickle at the end.
Finish: Medium-length with citrus, herbs, and pepper.
Score: 5-6 (76)
Mental Image: Tea-based Mocktail Bar
Narrative & Notes: What an interesting aroma! The citrus, herbal, and woody notes pushed and pulled in slightly different directions from polished wood, a room wiped down vigorously with antiseptic wipes or a bubbling lime soda cocktail. An herbal nexus or pine and mint determined which direction the overall impression seemed to lean. The palate moved more in the direction of a well-honeyed herbal tea, though occasionally, it pulled toward herbal cocktails or antiseptic wipes on an old library table. A peppery spirit quality waited on the back end and lingered on a slightly drying finish.
Overall, not a bad whisky by any measure, but it felt a bit rough around the edges and simple— though I did like how the flavors seemed to recombine in different ways. Combining honey and Clorox wipes with a dash of Lysol and lemon-scented Pledge did not make for a terribly thrilling combination. I thought the aroma pleasant, and while the flavor profile was not bad, it never really came together. Though I did not have enough of the whisky to try, I feel this would work well in a high ball with a bit of orange.
Image Credit: Whiskybase
