ralfy review 1022 - Craigellechie 17yo @46%vol: (Re-reviewed 2024)

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[@seamusbryans3289]

I visited Aberfeldy only a week or two ago and when mentioning my disappointment with the Aberfeldy bottling I was told by a member of staff that the E150 40%abv format is being discontinued. Apparently they are revising the presentation to be bought in line with other distilleries within the group. Reassuring! 🤞

[@amflyer68]

To all of you complaining about the scores: Ralfy is an absolute unending source of knowledge, putting out two well thought out vids per week, looking for bargains and discussing the high-year, high dollar bottles both. His campaigning for natural presentation, consistency, and value make him a national treasure. Hell, a global icon, on top of it. Think before you impugn his dedication and knowledge base, of which he is at the “top of the top”. Ralfy is simply the best. The pinnacle. First rate. I give him a score of 84/100.

[@jasonmossman3680]

And don't forget Ralfy recalibrated his scoring last year. He thought he was being too generous overall so the scores tend to be lower now. This really isn't a problem folks

[@Soldano999]

Listening to your description while drinking it makes it better because it helps pick up the notes and put words on it. It's like going to a museum and having a guide tell you about the hidden subtleties of a painting.

[@bigjay875]

Got to respect the surprise guest 😊

[@yvofrom]

Cat tax paid in full😉

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

Dear Ralfy, I have been enjoying Craigellechie 13 for years and I did try this bottling twice. Great 👍 stuff always delivers. Thanks 🙏 and kindest regards, Sandro

[@matthewbarnable9940]

Craig 17 is one of the best malts I’ve ever had. Not sure I understand Ralfy’s new scoring system. Middling malts seem to get similar scores. I’ll watch Ralfy for the knowledge but I’ve given up trying to get my head around his scores.

[@Allebonneur]

The higher the score, the faster the prize goes up. So I suspect Ralfy is looking after us malt lovers. Lovely Whisky btw, I would like to add!

[@The.Epicurean]

Add 10 to get the old score!😂

[@LectroSaw]

My apologies if I've missed it somewhere in a thousand reviews, what exactly is a 100 point malt? Seems cynical to award points if the best can't be defined.

[@matthewbarnable9940]

@@AllebonneurI concur, I think there’s a method to Ralfy’s madness. I won’t question it further and will read between the lines of the review itself.

[@larosa823]

Haha great organic moment right there! You are the Goat 🐐!

[@scottgilham1400]

Picked up a bottle here in the states. Really enjoyed my first pour. Tried it again a few days later and enjoyed it even more. Thanks for the review.

[@MrSottobanco]

03:07 Thank you for mentioning the Cerberus of the financial world.

[@HCP5]

Your cat is a Star.

[@ryanreid9863]

hi ralfy got was lucky to get this for my 21st birthday did not like it at first but left the glass sitting for a hour came back it is a great whisky once u give it time to open up thx u for helping me on my journey up to now 4 years in much appreciate it

[@terrortower666]

What to say about Craigellachie?? They don’t put out bad bottles, or anything less than fabulous. So positive to see this from an older distillery, as quite a lot seem to have just given up

[@GeoffreyBangers]

Funny you mentioned the soft clove and cardamom notes. I have always picked up a spice jar, powdered nutmeg note on Craigellachie. Totally unique. I love it.

[@andremelandray7102]

What a coincidence i watched your last review of this whisky last night( since i had just bought the 13) and behold , another one , wowsers and glad you did

[@hongji18]

Craigellachie 13 is around $50 in the US but the 17 is around $180-200. Not sure if it is worth the extra 4 yesrs.

[@adriannudelman4519]

No vale la pena pay 180/200 for extra 4 years. 👎

[@johnvanderborght6800]

I agree. The price is all that has held me back from buying it. The 13 is a permanent member of my whisky shelf.

[@alehhandro1]

100% agree!

[@Soldano999]

That's weird. Here i pay 50 for the 13 and 100 for the 17. Still not worth the extra 4 years though 😂

[@rhodes1591]

... you mean the extra $150 !

[@mrnosebear7406]

Fantastic job done by Ralfy. Mission accomplished. Only one tiny mistake made by Ralfy. What about his rule: A minute in the glass is a year in the cask? Cheerio from a pat-pal in Germany P.S. I just saw an offer for the 17 year old for 88 EUR including p&p. I am really tempted to buy a bottle

[@hansklaus3959]

Just a remark to those who haven't tried the whisky before: I bought a bottle about a year ago just because other online reviewers highly recommended it. I tried to find the depth and the special flavours in it over and over again until half of the bottle was empty. Then I tried again together with my friends. None of us could find it until the bottle was finally empty. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, especially considering the price. It's always a matter of taste, but there are so many other good bottles out there that are much cheaper (think of the 100 proof series from Signatory...liked all of them better....

[@mrboomslang8852]

Ralfy hope you’re ok pal! Gotta say a massive thankyou for recommending cambletown loch what a whisky! Gonna get another bottle! For a blended malt WOW!

[@MB11235]

Only disappointment of our last aberlour trip was that craigsllachie is closed to the public had to get their bottles at dewars aberfeldy location

[@bblair2627]

what a great review! loved it

[@yusufsayed1583]

Good Evening 😊 Thanks for the review 👏🏼👏🏼 Awesome Mate👌🏽 Greetings and Cheers🍻 from South Africa 🇿🇦

[@SurlySteve1]

Ralfy. This is one you suggested I try when we blethered all things whisky related in the BA. Sainte

[@pc3776]

Craigallachie is delicious. I really love the style. I've tried the 13. And i have a single cask 15 from hunter laing. And theyre absolutely stunning whiskies

[@somewaresim]

Thanks. Another for my list. 😊

[@simongilbert2704]

the ' craig ' by indy bottlers is the best all round whisky ;;

[@ian436]

Currently enjoying a SMWS 16 year old Craigellachie which is excellent, the abv is 63.2%, which is very strong. The official bottlings of Craigellachie are always superb.

[@jurgs18]

Great review, I'm very partial to Craigellachie and Glenallachie.

[@Armedmouse]

Finished my bottle a few weeks ago. It lasted me 3 years! The price has gone upp since of course but I'll probobly end up buying it again.

[@christinecamley]

I love this Craigellachie although in Canada it’s considerably more expensive than the Craigellachie 13. $80 versus $220. That’s before taxes. Still the 17 is fabulous! Delicious! Cheers!

[@brentkasl6510]

When I was a newbie my first purchase was Glenfiddich 12, didn’t know any better, that is long gone and never replenished a bottle represented from Speyside until this review so will be adding a respectful Craigellachie 👍

[@brentkasl6510]

Sourced a bottle to replace an old Glenfiddich 12 and was surprised how intense and different it was, reinforced my need to become more of a mature sampler!

[@barryhamilton7845]

My favourite Craigellachie is the 17,ive literally just finished a bottle, and guess what ive got another!! Its one of two foreign owned Scotch whiskies il buy is Craigellachie and Bunnahabhain. Ive found a couple of cracking whiskies in the petrol station next to the distillery ,of all places,a petrol station!!!

[@Soldano999]

I've never been disappointed by a Bunnahabain either. Solid brand.

[@primewhisky]

Excellent stuff, 98usd in Sweden👍🏻

[@uilleachan]

Good review. I'm loving the plain jane Craigellechie 13 at the moment, which I find to be a good stand in for the missing in action springbank 10.

[@BDCF100]

I really like the Craig 13 finished in Bas Armagnac casks.

[@Soldano999]

@@BDCF100 as someone who lives 30 minutes from the bas armagnac region i can respect that. You could also try real armagnac :)

[@John-iq4cj]

@@BDCF100that’s definitely a good one. It tastes even better a couple months after opening.

[@mingxiao9299]

I totally agree. But I’ll get this even though in China we have tons of spring bank. You should see what exists in Brussels. Astonishing finds

[@uilleachan]

There's enough findable springbank here in Scotland to keep me optimistic, on the shelves of vendors with allocation but no online presence. Found 2 bottles that way without really looking. Actually there were 4 bottles, I bought 1 in both January & March. Someone else found the remaining 2 as they were gone when I looked on Sunday past. W

[@robfut9954]

Bacardi do quite well with the brands they own. Not always as good as the old owners, but far far better than stockholder owned companies. I wish them well.

[@marcwhiskey]

I tasted alongside the review for once. Probably by the power of suggestion, that banana note came through on the taste for me. With the vanilla note, it was like a banana split with pineapple topping. I don't usually taste beyond a few notes but it surely helps to have a little guidance.

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

A perfect dram that made me happy.

[@eviltrain24]

Rally! When did you get a wide angle camera? Thanks for the review! Been looking at this real hard for this year to buy.

[@sashidemedia]

Loved the Craig 13! 17yo is easily around 180usd now, at the minimum..

[@carlubambi5541]

Thank you !

[@Fisklina]

Since I first tried this about six years ago, it's developed inte something of a favourite. I recently picked up three extra bottles. At about £79 here in Sweden I think it's a massive bargain.

[@SimonneNZ]

The return of Billy the Cat! 😸I have the Craigellachie 13 which I am really enjoying. I paid $99 NZD for it. The 17 is too expensive for me, over $200. I don't think an extra 4 years is worth paying more than $100 extra. Cheers!

[@torbjornkarlsen]

It was £96 in Norway but it's sold out now.

[@thomasmclennon4746]

I'm going to want to see the cat in every review now.

[@israelliberow1855]

Thank you always for great reviews. Still not fully understanding your new scoring system. How is Yoichi 86 and Craigellachie 17. 85 ? Maybe the price? both are not budget whiskeys

[@petertodorov1010]

If a whisky is consistently good, why do you give it 85/100? I haven't tried the 17YO, but I have tried the 13 YO, and it's a superb expression. However, I think it was last year or in 2022 when you gave Balblair 12YO 89/100, and I would say that it isn't anywhere near the Craigelachie 13YO, what about the 17YO.

[@heisenbergguy7772]

It’s about $200 out the door price where I am, in the good ole USA!

[@1stMemberEver]

Now Craigellechie is very hard to find and least in continental Europe.

[@nealbruce5914]

I too am a bit confused at Ralfy’s new scoring. This was a rave too?

[@Innovate22]

10:00 Labelling passive whisky consumers as “lazy” and “suckers” is a little harsh Ralfy. Not everyone has the time to invest hours learning about whisky on the internet, like us 😅 On the contrary, brands like Argbeg and MaCallan often treat their most loyal fans as “suckers” and “guinea pigs”, foisting crap whisky for $$$ as limited and experimental commitee releases.

[@stieriks]

Loving the 17! Must say I expected a higher rating than 85 based on the praise though 😅

[@davidliston4204]

Eveything gets 80-85 nowadays. The new points system is almost worthless now

[@patzerville4033]

Was 89 last time 🤷‍♂...first time was 87.

[@davidliston4204]

@@patzerville4033 must have missed those. I thought the last one was the Yoichi and have it 86. Will have to go back and look. I still think the old method was better, he had plenty of runway left

[@gregb8824]

​@@davidliston4204you're correct. Might as well be a scale from 1-5

[@davidliston4204]

@@gregb8824 i don’t get it at all. He rarely rated over 90 before and had plenty of runway left. As much as I loge Ralfy he seems to overestimate his influence on the market and can be a little to much of an ideologue rather IMHO . Still a much appreciated figure and this is said with any malice

[@SteveHB59]

Ralfy is chill filtration an issue with Rum ?

[@nealbruce5914]

Love the furry guest! Beautiful!

[@BravingTheOutDoors]

I think you should do another recommendation video for beginners. Best 5 cheap whiskies for 2024.

[@Ownedyou]

Cats can sense the internet!

[@TheReal_DeanD]

These are 170 to 199 USD for the last couple of years. Most of the reviewers on KZbin seemed to have liked this more when it was 90 USD.

[@mark5ization]

@2:23 - A cat's gonna do what a cat's gonna do! 🐱

[@19dec1981]

why is something wrong with Aberfeldy?

[@b.benjamineriksson6030]

This isn't that expensive in Sweden at all. about 80 pounds. I haven't tried this one but I regularly buy the 13. It's wonderful.

[@RobWalker1]

Balvenie 16yrs French Oak review on the cards..? Would be interested in your perspective!

[@thefollandgnat]

Why do you prefix so many flavours with the word "soft". I mean I can understand soft toffee, soft apricot too, but soft cloves? How do they differ from your everyday cloves?

[@bluesmanen1]

Nice review. Imho...this is a really good, tasteful whisky but.....heavily overpriced in my market, almost twice the price compared with the lovely 13yo.....so I rather buy two 13yo instead of one 17yo🍷cheers

[@caskstrength7629]

Billy 👌

[@franco2739]

You added 5ml of water, but what was the volume of whiskey?

[@mucky1957.]

which whisky got the highest mark ???

[@gregb8824]

If this bottle only receives 85 after such a glowing review we should expect to see some of the lesser whiskies coming in at 65 if these numbers mean anything at all...

[@amflyer68]

Rating whisky with a number has always been a bit like giving a score of how you’re feeling that day. Hence, the disclaimer, “one man’s opinion.”

[@robfut9954]

I have to disagree with regards to Aberfeldy. I feel they are excellent value for the prices they charge. They’re not an oddball “interesting” malt but they’re well made and affordable even in the US. Under $40 for the 12 where I am.

[@garynapolitano1270]

Ralfy, as a Scotsman, I am struggling with paying $62 a bottle of 13-year-old, or $160 for a bottle of the 17 year old. Is it worth it for the extra years? In your opinion, of course

[@swedishburrito5073]

❤👍🥃

[@domanz1]

decadent nose, meaty mouth, i rate this kitty a 10/10. Also craigellachie is one of those distilleries that are so great but I still didn't crack open a bottle because I already got too many openend. I hold the 13 to 23 y.o. samples in esteemed memory though and can't wait for the right moment to open a savory honey pot.

[@scottmathieson2324]

Was on my list but dropped off now its gone over £100

[@bobi-gr]

hi ralfi, can you check the subtitles, thanks, cheers!🥃

[@alehhandro1]

Spunds great! Wish it wasn’t as expensive as it is on the North American side of the pond!

[@darek0072]

absolutely unacceptable price

[@daviddodds6071]

Why am I getting sub titles its annoying

[@vashlow]

Enjoy the review as always but Ralfy never practices a good habit to disclose each whisky's batch & year details which is a shame! He's always demanding when it comes to labelling details yet neglected to relates batch & year of the bottle he's reviewing, really hope for an improvement change on this aspect please 😄

[@spambotfodder]

I both an 8 year and 12 year bottling of Craig Allechie and they are quite lovelly for budget whiskey.

[@martindouwe6099]

Craigellachie, typingerror above dear friend