Craigellachie 9 Year Old 2004 Hepburn's Choice

Craigellachie is a working horse that spits around 4 million liters of spirit out of its stills every year. Yet it is not a very well-known malt. This has everything to do with the fact that the lion’s share of production disappears into Dewar’s blend, with their White Horse label as the most important client. So we have to look at independent bottlers once more. This young Speysider matured on a sherry butt and was bottled under Langside Distiller’s label Hepburn’s Choice (subdivision of Hunter Laing).

Hmm, the nose is not fresh to be honest. Sweet malt, apples and green grapes are overpowered a bit by something moldy that reminds me of a moist cellar. A hint of pistachio nuts makes some amends. All in all, this reminds me more of new make than of single malt.

It is fairly light on the palate, but immediately sweet and sour, as if apple juicy was mixed with sauerkraut. Quite alcoholic, despite the low ABV. Again quite spirity with a sharp peppery edge.

The finish is fairly short – which I consider a blessing.

I have not yet had a lot of luck with Craigellachie. This one is another disappointment.

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