Craigellachie 13 Year Old Whisky

I found the first pour a bit strange with the meaty undercurrent dominating. In fact I disliked it. It put me in mind of that weird leatheriness you can find with underripe red Burgundy. After a few pours, the overt meatiness has dissipated somewhat and I find a nice taste of pineapple, maybe popcorn and some apple or even lemon knitted together with the oily malt, a little smoke. Perhaps the meatiness is still there in the background, but in a good way now. Anyway, it all ties together. Very pleasant.

Give it some time and air to open up. Really interesting development and finish for a 13 year old! More complex and interesting than most whisky's of similar age.

I really didn't enjoy this. It begins promisingly on the front palate, but the development and finish has some notes that I find really unpleasant. Lingering sulphur and congeners? I can't think of a whisky where my experience has been so at odds with positive online reviews. It's been relegated to hot toddy fodder; it's not bad with honey and lemon but an expensive dram for mixing. Taste is very subjective I guess.

First Scotch ever to explode on the palate!
It was like holding on of those commercial grade fireworks in my mouth and lighting the fuse!
It’s like a GlenDronach 12 before the sherry bomb finish or a milder Dalmore 12.

A superb whisky with full body and taste. At a 13yr old age statement it stands out from the usual 10yr, 12yr but don’t be fooled. Well worth the money and a under the radar speyside distillery!!

I tried 2 different bottles of this stuff over the period of a year or so and had to conclude that it is not for me. I found it quite sulfurous, and the meaty notes some attribute to the worm tubs were unpleasant. Those two qualities overpowered whatever other more pleasing notes it may contain. It was very disappointing for an OB of 13 years, bottled at 46% for a reasonable price compared to others. One of the few such whiskies I shall never buy again.

Hard for me to put a finger on exactly what I’m tasting, but it’s a quality whisky and it’s delicious. Meaty and substantial is about right I guess. Takes water well.

Here in the States it runs about 60$ and has started showing up even in the mom&pop liquor stores. On my third bottle now since it came out a few years back. No chill filtering or caramel color. Hard fruits, pears, apples on the nose, heavy meaty mouthfeel. The dreaded adjective "Smooth" and not excessively complex, a unique alternative to sherried drams and the peaty, smoky Islays. Nice, rather dry medium length finish. Have passed it around ("Here, try THIS...") with friends...one or two "Meh, it's alrights" but mostly positive feedback. I have seen a few more good reviews around recently, and hoping this a good sign that this is establishing a bit of a cult following. I would like it popular enough to remain easily available without it suffering the "Lagavulin effect" where the price increases 50 percent (the Offerman tax? lol!) overnight. Have a pretty deep, long term collection of favorite malts, and Craigellachie 13 offers a unique presence in the lineup. I like the label design as well, it does seem to fit the profile of an imagined, old-fashioned dram!

I'm impressed by this one. Oily, buttery texture. Definitely has a pineapple after taste. Sweet and sultry.

Certainly a complex malt that needs time to show its character. Lovely oily texture with hints of nuts and spearmint, Unusual but delicious