Craigellachie 2012/2023 Signatory Vintage 10 years old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 68.4%

Same distillation day, same distillery, bottled five weeks later — and an entirely different cask. Two neighbouring casks from 2012, one of which had held sherry before and one of which had not.

Expert description

Craigellachie 2012/2023 Signatory Vintage 10 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a first fill oloroso butt and bottled at cask strength of 68.4% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

The cask is numbered 900699, was filled on 4 September 2012 and emptied on 17 February 2023. It gave 529 bottles. First fill means it went straight from sherry to Scotch with nothing in between, which gives a far stronger cask influence than a refill. Signatory buys casks from distilleries across Scotland and bottles them under its own name.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dense and dark. Syrupy raisin, black cherry and orange marmalade, with cinnamon, dark cocoa and a dry nutty note.

Palate

Fiercely concentrated. Fig, date, chocolate and burnt sugar, with a peppery warmth and a dry sherry edge. The distillery's mineral core sits underneath and keeps the sweetness from running away.

Finish

Very long, dry and spiced, with dark fruit, oak and a slowly fading warmth.

Specifications

Name: Craigellachie 2012/2023 Signatory Vintage 10 years Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 68,4%
Distillery: Craigellachie
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 68.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First fill oloroso butt no. 900699
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 04/09/2012
Bottled: 17/02/2023
Number of bottles: 529
Edition: Cask Strength Collection
EAN no.: 5021944121878

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark Fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. 529 bottles from a first fill oloroso cask at 68.4%. Active sherry wood on Craigellachie is a rare combination, and the outturn is small.

Did you know?

First fill sherry casks have become scarce. The sherry industry has shrunk, and most casks used in Scotch today are made to order and seasoned with sherry for a few years rather than having carried wine for decades.

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Frequently asked questions about Craigellachie 2012/2023 Signatory Vintage 10 years 68.4%

What does first fill oloroso butt mean?

That the cask held oloroso sherry and was then filled with Scotch for the first time. The wood is still saturated, and the cask influence is far stronger than in a refill.

How does it differ from the sister cask at 67.4 percent?

Both were distilled the same day, but this cask is first fill and was bottled five weeks later. The result is darker, sweeter and more sherry-driven, where the other keeps more mineral edge.

Can it be drunk at full strength?

Yes, but in small measures. At 68.4% give it time in the glass and add water gradually. The whisky opens up markedly as the strength comes down.

How many bottles exist?

The cask gave 529 bottles. No more will come from cask number 900699.

Why have sherry casks become rare?

Because sherry consumption has fallen sharply, so fewer casks are produced. Most sherry casks in Scotch today are purpose-made rather than old transport casks.

What defines Craigellachie?

A heavy, meaty spirit with a faintly sulphurous edge, created by worm tub condensers. It is one of the least typical Speyside malts — see the rest of the region in our Speyside Whisky.