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