Do we even need this? | Craigellachie 13 Armagnac REVIEW

[@MaltDaddy]

I would not be sad if this actually becomes a core range series. It gives Craigellachie fans more options to enjoy those sulfur notes

[@steveno7058]

Bunna 12, Craigallachie 13, Ledaig 10 and Arran 10 are the value kings in my market.

[@Gwhisky]

In most markets. All superstars! 🥃

[@peathead4450]

Thanks for shining a light on this one, Geoff. Have tasted this expression, but I prefer the original 13yo myself, but there surely will be whisky lovers that will prefer this armagnac finished. Decent stuff anyway. Slàinte mhath

[@Gwhisky]

Hey Frank. I can see why people still gravitate toward the original. There's a punchiness in that one that's less forward here. Matter of taste. Cheers buddy! 🥃

[@MOFOSGTFO]

Craigellachie 13 the original is the GOAT.

[@Gwhisky]

Agree! 🥃

[@thewhiskyscribe]

I’d have to agree 🥃

[@lyacoubian]

Very well said Geoff. I agree with your assessments wholeheartedly. Craigellachie 13 Armagnac is a gem. 🥃

[@Gwhisky]

It's a stunner! 🥃

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Brilliant Geoff! I'll be sure to keep an eye out for this. Cheers!

[@Gwhisky]

Great! Cheers buddy! 🥃

[@thewhiskyscribe]

I always find myself gravitating back to Craigellachie. I’ll have to keep an eye out for the Armagnac finish, I haven’t seen it here in Australia yet.

[@Gwhisky]

It's a good one. Hope you can get your hands on it! 🥃

[@lightplays2181]

Nice whisky . Good review Geoff ! Cheers !

[@Gwhisky]

Thanks buddy! Cheers! 🥃

[@lightplays2181]

@@Gwhisky : )

[@ryanmercer600]

I took a chance on this several months ago and enjoyed it very much. Got a backup bottle

[@Gwhisky]

Glad to hear that! 🥃

[@garynapolitano1270]

One of these will be my next bottle. The are priced exactly the same at my local shop. I’m leaning toward the Armagnac finish, then the standard 13 to follow. I’ll try to pass along my thoughts after I have tasted.

[@Gwhisky]

I think for me the Armagnac slightly edges out the regular 13. But the standard release is more challenging. Depends what you want. 🥃

[@garynapolitano1270]

@@Gwhisky WOW! There’s So Much going on in this glass. The nose is powerful, but controlled. The pallet is a whirlwind of surprise , anything but boring! It’s a Winner!

[@robertinco4472]

13 year old whisky finished in Bas-Armagnac barrels I really like. Got it at the same price as the normal 13. Love both. Same price for both helps. Buy both!!!!!

[@Gwhisky]

Awesome! Seems to be about USD $20 more in most markets. For the same price it's an absolute steal! 🥃

[@gfrank9772]

I’m my area the Armagnac finish is only $3-$5 more than the regular 13 so it’s definitely worth the consideration under $60!!!

[@Gwhisky]

Damn that's a great deal! 🥃

[@laurentsteck6086]

Interning review. I will maybe consider to buy one. But you made me buy another whisky... I could find one bottle of that Bunnahabhain that you where talking about. Looking forward to taste it.

[@Gwhisky]

You mean the 12 cs? That's a stunner! 🥃

[@laurentsteck6086]

​@@Gwhisky ​ no I'm talking about the moine brendy. The 12 CS I have it already. As you said, very nice!

[@Gwhisky]

@Laurent Steck Incredible. It opens up A LOT with time. It's one of my all-time favourites! 🥃

[@laurentsteck6086]

Great then! I was lucky to find this bottle. It was the last in stock that I could find

[@philc1884]

Nice review, Geoff. I was just eyeing it for $60 and cheaped out for a Dewar's Mizunara finish ($28) which might be the best cheap blended scotch I've sampled. (Might go back for the Craig : )

[@murduk88]

Great review and FWIW I concur almost 100%. My only issue with the armagnac version is the extra $27 over the regular Craigellachie 13. I don't think it delivers $27 more engagement, but I agree with you that it's different enough to validate its existence. I'd buy the regular version eight or nine times out of ten, mostly to save the money. Cheers!

[@xiamengbaby]

Maybe it's because the regular 13 is overpriced in my market, but the Armagnac finished is only $5 more here (Chicago area).

[@Gwhisky]

Yeah it SHOULD be similarly priced. The extra $5 is fine. I'm hearing it's a full $30 more in some markets, which is too much. I love it, but come on... 🥃

[@JeffWhisky]

I wanted to love this one Geoff but sadly it didn't quite match the standard 13 and for me a rounder edge would be welcomed on the 13. It is different enough to hang about but won't be jumping on it. Great as always better Geoff!

[@Gwhisky]

That's fair. There's a punchiness to the original that just doesn't come through as much in this one. Lol "better Geoff." Inaccurate, sir. 🥃

[@michaeldenning8558]

My friend is a big Craig fan so we have tried the 13, Armagnac, 17 and 23. ….and the 23 was the worst, the sulfur was too much for all 3 of us sampling it so definitively one to try before getting a bottle. Maybe time/air will help but TBD

[@Gwhisky]

Really? I've heard mostly good things about the 23. Makes me feel better about (probably) never buying it. Cheers! 🥃

[@lovebedi]

I'll buy one today . it's for $70 here in the US.

[@canalwhiskywhiskey]

The Craigellachie 13 is my next buy, but the regular 13.

[@Gwhisky]

Awesome! That's the better value one, anyway. Enjoy! 🥃

[@TheReal_DeanD]

In my area the Craigellachie 13 year Armengac cask finish is $30 USD more than the regular 13 year. Mostly everyone is passing on it. It’s on my wishlist as I’ve heard mostly good reviews about it.

[@Gwhisky]

Yeah it's good. It's a nice departure from the regular 13 while maintaining the house style. But yeah... it's pushing it with the price. 🥃

[@eviltrain24]

I've yet to buy it and more than likely will end up passing it up as I'm trying to steer myself to buying from untasted distilleries. That said, I did end up buying an I.B. of a Craigellachie 12yr, so I guess I lie as naturally as I breath. I more or less finished buying out the affordable core range for Compass Box with my pick up of Orchard House and Artist Blend. Picked up my first Aultmore, an 11yr I.B. sherry bo-bomb of a cask. Glen Scotia 18 as it was one of the more affordable 18yr olds around me. Will definitely re-watch your review of it and compare notes. A Speyburn 15 yr, which I've only dipped into once, but at $60, might be my value 15yr buy of the year. Get this: Scott's Selection, 1980 Glenrothes 25 years old... $150. I re-stun myself every time I think about that bottle find. I've poured 1 dram and did an hour long session. I don't think I understood what 'industrial' could be until I tasted it. machine oil, vaseline, tubes of lipstick, some long forgotten asian ointment I can no longer put my finger on, an auto shop. Calbee shrimp chips "It's got it all!" ~Stephan from SNL probably.

[@Gwhisky]

Damn! A 25 year old from 2005 for $150 is absurd! Sounds like a banger! Lol totally heard the Stephan voice in my head when I read that! 🥃

[@bluesmanen1]

I hope this one shows up in Sweden in time. Love the 13, the 17 is also great but a bit pricy, twice the price compered to the 13, atleast here.

[@Gwhisky]

Yeah this serves as a nice in-between. It's more luxurious than the 13, and not nearly as pricey as the 17. And it's got plenty of that Craigellachie character. 🥃

[@steveno7058]

😂 in my area the 17 is 4x more than the 13

[@DileepB]

Both are same price ($59) at my shop. Will pick up the Armagnac.

[@Gwhisky]

Awesome! 🥃

[@peatbull3426]

At this price get both x2 its bargain. 👍😁🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

[@DileepB]

@@peatbull3426 I already have the other one.

[@peatbull3426]

@@DileepB exelent. Now you lucky one can compare them F2F. Fantastic. Enjoy 😁🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

[@DileepB]

@@peatbull3426 I like it better, Surprised to see that it is lighter color.

[@cato451]

$20 more. Eh. Like you I am a long time Craigellachie fan. I guess I need to give it a try. BTW have you been to Craigellachie Geoff?? My favorite town in Scotland right where the Spey and Fiddich rivers collide. Sadly the distillery doesn’t offer tours. It’s very industrial looking from the outside.

[@Gwhisky]

It's worth a shot, even if it's a few bucks more imo. $20... yeah try it once and see how you feel about it. No, I've never been there. It's on the bucket list! 🥃

[@steveno7058]

Craigallachie is quickly becoming one of my favorite distilleries. Hope they release cask strength versions eventually

[@TimHoekstra]

Yes that would be grand.

[@nv0us]

Fwiw... I've seen a 2005 15 yr 56.5% Refill Bourbon barrel by Gordon and Macphail for $125 in Hawaii

[@Gwhisky]

Yeah they have some IBs out there that fit the bill, but you're right... a cs Craigellachie OB would be amazing! 🥃

[@peatbull3426]

I just received email from Aberdeen Whisky Shop about New Release of Glen Elgin 14yo the Pintail series with Floc the Gascogne finish. £75. Sounds interesting?? 😁🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

[@Gwhisky]

Nice! 🥃

[@andyking894]

That chewing on the furniture comment felt really personal. I can't help it if varnish and upholstery are delicious! Also, Craigellachie must have updated their labels in the last few years, or the Taiwan market doesn't state it, but my US bottle of standard 13 does have "no chill filtering" on the back.

[@Gwhisky]

Actually mine says that it's ncf, too. I think I got it wrong... it's the colour thing that's always been noticeably absent. Varnish and upholstery. Breakfast of champions. 😂😂😂

[@Hingspiration]

So which one would you recommend to someone who has yet to explore Craigellachie?

[@Gwhisky]

I'd start with the regular 13. Better value! 🥃

[@PinkiRH]

잘받았습니다 ㅎㅎㅎ

[@YoJimBo851610]

The US version says non chill filtered but doesn't state natural color...

[@Gwhisky]

It is natural colour according to the website. Always baffles me when brands give us good specs and then don't tell us about it... 🥃