Craigellachie 51 Year Old (distilled 1962, bottled 2014)

Product of: United Kingdom

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Released October 2018, unusually, Craigellachie 51 was not bottled in a fancy crystal decanter or given a lofty price tag. Indeed, it was bottled to be given away over a 12-month period following its release at tastings in London, Australia, South Africa and USA.

Sourced from one exceptional cask which appropriately yielded 51 bottles. At the time of bottling the strength of the whisky in the cask had dropped to 40% and there was a concern that if left the whisky would drop to below the legal 40% minimum alc./vol. for a whisky.

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 25/10/2018

Appearance:

Clear, golden amber.

Aroma:

Pineapple, butterscotch, red apple, linseed oil-rubbed chamois leather with faint earthy peatiness and liquorice.

Taste:

Assertive cinnamon spiced oak offsets rich pineapple and green apple fruitiness with pleasing liquorice and coal tar.

Aftertaste:

Coal tar, liquorice and menthol.

Overall:

Wonderfully fruity for such an old whisky with pineapple and green apple. This fruitiness brilliantly sits alongside distinctive notes of coal tar and liquorice. Be sure to visit craigellachie.com/bar51 for a chance to try.