Craigellachie 13 Year Old
Craigellachie · Craigellachie Distillery
Craigellachie 13 is Speyside's contrarian — a malt that wears its worm-tub-condensed character like a badge of honor. It trades polished elegance for muscular honesty, rewarding drinkers who appreciate texture and funk over refinement.
Kit Aromas
Nose
A striking sulfurous meatiness gives way to ripe peach and honey, with toasted almond and a wisp of green cut grass. The nose is unconventional for Speyside — heavier, more textured, demanding attention.
Palate
Waxy and full on entry, with malt sweetness yielding quickly to clove spice and a distinctive earthy minerality. Mid-palate brings buttery cereal notes alongside dried fruit. A woody oak backbone provides structure without dominating.
Finish
Medium-long, with smoky undertones and lingering honey. The earthy, slightly phenolic character persists as a savory farewell.
- Region
- Speyside
- Cask Type
- Ex-bourbon American oak
- Peat Level (PPM)
- Unpeated
- Distillation
- Copper pot stills with traditional worm tub condensers
- Maturation
- First-fill and refill American oak ex-bourbon casks
- Chill-Filtered
- No
Cocktail Suggestion
Speyside Penicillin — 2 oz Craigellachie 13 · 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.75 oz honey-ginger syrup · Shake hard with ice, strain into rocks glass over fresh ice, garnish with candied ginger.
Food Pairing
Aged Comté cheese with honeycomb
Built in 1891 at the confluence of the Fiddich and Spey rivers, Craigellachie is one of the last Speyside distilleries still using traditional worm tub condensers, which impart its famously meaty, sulfurous spirit character.
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