A Couple of Craigellachies: 13yo, 17yo, 23yo Single Malt Scotch reviews

Bacardi Limited has been a bit of a bête noire for my reviews in the past, as their portfolio is stuffed full of products - from D'Usse to Patrón to their upper-level rums to, most relevantly for today's purposes, Aberfeldy ( • Aberfeldy Sample Pack ... ) - that seem decently made but should really be far better than they are.
But this lineup should be different. You see, a couple of years ago Bacardi's Dewar's arm introduced a new core range for one of the most beloved among jobbing malt distilleries, namely Craigellachie. Oil-fired, sulphury malt! Worm tubs! Meaty notes! Craigellachie's recently been one of the favorites among lovers of weird, heavy metal Speysiders (when they can't get Mortlach), and this official range is on the shelf unchillfiltered and bottled at 46%. So let's try some samples and see what's up...
- Craigellachie 13 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (OB, bottled circa 2019; unchillfiltered, 46% ABV), 86/100
- Craigellachie 17 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (OB, bottled circa 2019; unchillfiltered, 46% ABV), 87+/100
- Craigellachie 23 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (OB, bottled circa 2019; unchillfiltered, 46% ABV), 87/100
Not a lot of meatiness to these and I don't think old-school Mortlach fans are going to find adequate substitutes here (still less Springbank fans - wait until Friday to have that conversation) but overall these are extremely good. Think Glenlivet by way of Tom Waits, fruity and peppery and tobacco-y and beery and grungy. Come for the review of some really fun Speyside malts, stay for the lecture on tertiary notes.
Extra special thanks to my Different Spirits on Patreon ( / differentspirits ) -
Kingsbury bushcraft
Rob D
Steve Frazee
John Halliday
Jason Newquist
Matthew Ruiz
RumSquirrel
Dallas Shatel
Chris Sherman
Gordon W
Zach W

[@1jaasuh]

Thanks for the review! Craigellachie 13 has been a favourite of mine, and they recently updated their homepage, telling us the following about the casks of the 13 and 17: Initially matured in a mixture of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks. 50% of the 'blend' is then finished in first-fill Sherry casks, the rest in first-fill Bourbon. I'm surprised but can't complain. It really works for me, and I don't detect any artificial 'finishedness'. I've tried the 17 year old as a sample, and am saving a bottle of it for some occasion. I've tried some independent bottlings of Craigellachie, and don't think any come close to the OB. I've got a Cadenhead's hogshead that I love for its flinty edge, but would rather drink the regular 13 year old most of the time, while everything that is sherried seems to plaster over the character of the malt that I'm there for... They seem to know what they are doing over there at Bacardi! (And they are killing the Aultmore single malt range. Having had a bottle of the 12y I did not stock up. Not a huge loss in my book.)

[@differentspirits4157]

I mostly agree with you! Although I have to admit, "They seem to know what they are doing over there at Bacardi" is a sentence I have never personally uttered. 😂 It's amazing how they can put out such a terrific product with some parts of their portfolio and the complete opposite with, well, everything else. It's like someone over there is just sneaking the actual decent stuff past management or something.

[@Walking_Ears]

I enjoy your use of tea comparisons for tasting notes and wonder if you'd make a "bonus content" video on tea at some point?

[@differentspirits4157]

I've been tossing around a more general idea about tasting notes, maybe a tea one could be fun too...

[@maddycors4499]

Great review!

[@differentspirits4157]

Thank you!! 😁

[@garrettjanssen7683]

Haven't had the 23 but I find similarities to your experience. Your pine-y notes were my tarragon ones. But I also found the 13yr to have an intense dryer sheet factor. The 17yr is a great dram, a rare one that rewards but doesn't demand exploration. They're across from a cooperage, use exclusive malt, and have worm tubs...might as well cross the line into full terroir-focus and ferment with alternative yeast (brewer's or indigenous). But this malt is critical to the Dewars blend so Bacardi won't mess with their money maker.

[@differentspirits4157]

It'll be interesting to see what further moves towards weirdness that we may see among the large firms. I mean, I never expected to see the kinds of stuff we're already seeing, so who knows?

[@justwhisky]

Your take on Craigellachie mirror mine…. Almost… C13 is great value for money… however the 17 at triple the price of the 13 is not worth the extra $$$ IMO And the 23 is double the price of the 17. Although apples and oranges If one cannot procure SB 10 then C13 can offer a great experience kinda sorta similar to SB for half the price. Just saying…. Cheers 🥃

[@differentspirits4157]

I take your point about value, albeit it's hard to think of a lot of OBs older than 16 that are actually worth the money (but wait until friday...). And as for Springbank substitution, uhh, also wait until friday...

[@user-hm8sp6dn9p]

Is Springbank coming?! I can't wait.

[@differentspirits4157]

....Yyyes and no! 😅

[@austintierney4828]

Wiser's 23 yr is the only alternative as far as I know lol

[@differentspirits4157]

as far as official bottlings? yup, beyond that I'm drawing a blank...

[@silverfox108]

Turn up your volume it is much to low for this recording

[@differentspirits4157]

I've been working on this in more recent videos! Apologies.

[@silverfox108]

NP I enjoyed what you were saying but had problems because even at max volume on my system back ground noise made it difficult to hear your great insights, Glad I have found you and i have subscribed. Thx @@differentspirits4157

[@MrPsiman]

Craigellachie is the only thing Bacardi does that is good

[@differentspirits4157]

I have a soft spot for Leblon and Benedictine. 😁