Craigellachie

SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES > C

CRAIGELLACHIE

15 years old

40 %

LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
CONNOISSEURS CHOICE
Distilled: 1974
Bottled: 1989
Proprietors: W.P. Lowrie & Co, Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

CRAIGELLACHIE

12 years old

43 %

FLORA & FAUNA
ABERFELDY/AULTMORE/CRAIGELLACHIE/
ROYAL BRACKLA/JOHN DEWAR AND SONS ARE
BOUGHT BY BACARDI IN 1998 AND THE FLORA AND
FAUNA EDITIONS FROM THIS DISTILLERIES ARE
DISCONTINUED
Distilled 1980
Bottled 1992
Craigellachie Distillery, Banffshire
Craigellachie distillery, founded in 1888, in the county of Banffshire, stands over¬looking the River Spey, the rock of Craigellachie, and Telford's dingle span iron bridge. The distillery uses local spring water running from little Conval Hill for mashing, resulting in this exellent single Malt Scotch Whisky of light and smoky character.

CRAIGELLACHIE

11 years old

43 %
THE VINTAGE CHOICE
Distilled 1983
Bottled 1994
The Vintage Malt Whisky Co, Ltd, Glasgow

CRAIGELLACHIE

16 years old

43%
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION
Distilled 11.10.78
Bottled 9.95
Cask no. 7707
Genummerde flessen
418 bottles
Van Wees, Holland

CRAIGELLACHIE

22 years old

60,2 %

RARE MALTS SELECTION
Natural Cask Strenght
Distilled 1973
Limited Edition
Genummerde flessen
White Horse Distillers, Glasgow
Craigellachie was built in 1891 on the banks of the River Spey, itself, rising to pro¬minence under the dynamic White Horse entrepreneur Sir Peter Mackie

As you taste this vigorous 22 year old, enjoy its full-gold colour, its fragrant nose, its light bodied, lively palate and its rich nutty finish.

CRAIGELLACHIE

25 years old

55 %

SINGLE CASK
SCOTCH MALT WHISKY
Date distilled Jul 72
Date bottled Sept 97
Society Cask No. code 44.13
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
'Pear Belle - Helene and stem ginger'17 years old

The distillery and village take their name from a rock, further op the Spey, towards Aviemore, which was the rallying pont of the Clan Grant. The former was built by 'Restless Peter' Mackie of White Horse (in partnership with others).

This is a superb example. Ginger in hue, with firm beads and big, fruity nose with hardly any prickle. Interestingly, the reduced nose matches the full strenght nose precisely: Pear Belle - Helene, stewed rhubarb, stem ginger covered in choclate, head flowers, the tantalising old scent of maturation wareghuses.

The flavour is a contrast - lightly bitter, with ginger and chillies and a warming finish.

'Stand Fast....' was the slogan of Clan Grant, and the distillery, now owned by John Dewar & Sons but originally built by Peter Mackie of White Horse, overlooks an attrac¬tive metal bridge across the Spey, built by Thomas Telford.

CRAUGELLACHIE

58,8 %

SINGLE CASK
SCOTCH MALT WHISKY
LAST BOTTLE & EMPTY
Date distilled Mar 82
Date bottled Sept 99
Society Cask No. code 44.15
Outturn 247 bottles
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
'Icing sugar and ivy leaves'
This example has a fine old-gold colour, although the cask is an American refill, and beads well. The first nose reminded us of workshops - wood-glue and rubber solution, an earthy note - then apple and pear crumble (slightly overcooked, with burned edges).

The flavour at this stage is pleasantly sweet and acidic, with a long finish and a waxy aftertaste.

Water changes the aroma. There are notes plasticine and putty, and some old, slightly stale, lemon among the fruits.

The flavour at reduced strenght is icing-sugar sweet to start, balanced by a slightly smoky bitterness at the back of the tongue, like cheweing ivy leaves.

CRAIGELLACHIE

14 years old

40 %

Single Malt Scotch Whisky Speyside
FROM THE HOUSE OF DEWAR
Craigellachie Distillery,
Craigellachie, Aberlour
Craigellachie Distillery was founded in 1891 by a partnership formed by a group of blenders and whisky merchants. The distillery stands on the spur of a hill, overlooking the precipitous Rock of Craigellachie. The river Spey and Thomas Telford's elegant single span Iron Bridge of 1815.

Possessing a fragrant, light and smoky nose that develops into a hint of a sweet, syrupy palate. Craigellachie finishes beatifully with a warming, malty and lightly smoked afterglow, influenced by 14 long years in oak

CRAIGELLACHIE

11 years old

46 %
Speyside Single Malt
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION
Distilled 03/02/98
Matured in a hogshead
Cask no: 75
Bottled 06/03/09
Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chillfiltered
Selected by The Ultimate Whisky CompanY

CRAIGELLACHIE

Aged 10 years

57.1 %
Speyside Region
THE NC2 RANGE
DUNCAN TAYLOR
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
Fons et Origo
D T C
Distilled 1999
Bottled 2010
Surprisingly smoky
Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd, Huntly, Aberdeenshire

CRAIGELLACHIE

2 0 0 2

DT NIET GESERVEERD46 %

WOR

9 years old

A L E I D

IN LOVING MEMORY

Speyside Single Malt

Distilled 20/08/02

Matured in a 1st fill sherry But

Cask no: 900069

Bottled 14/05/12

852 Numbered Botttles

SELECTED FOR ALEID

L & B Bar Amsterdam

Aleid en ik hebben vorig jaar april besloten om een whiskybotteling te geven aan iedereen

die ons dierbaar is.

Welke, wanneer, hoe en wat was toen nog niet bekend.

Na 31 oktober ben ik op zoek gegaan naar een mooie botteling.

Het is deze Craigellachie geworden.

Waarom deze fles? In het dorp Craigellachie heb ik Aleid ten huwelijk gevraagd, in 2002

zijn wij getrouwd en zoals jullie kunnen lezen is de whisky gebotteld op de geboortedag

van Aleid.

Ik hoop dat jullie bij het drinken van deze whisky een moment terug denken aan Aleid en

wat ze voor ons heeft betekent.

Dank voor Julie steun en liefde in de afgelopen maanden.

Gu bràth mèin gràdh.

Leon

Aleid en Leon waren 14 Mei 2011 uit drinken en eten in Het Kompas, Texel

John Dewar & Sons launches

LAST GREAT MALTS SELECTION

also see Aberfeldy, Aultmore, The Deveron (Glen Deveron / Macduff) Royal Brackla

24 September, 2014

John Dewar & Sons has announced plans to release a range of new expressions and single malts.

Aultmore, Aberfeldy, Craigellachie, The Deveron and Royal Brackla will be launched under the “Last Great Malts” title - each release featuring an age statement.

The single malts will be released in phases as a complete set of five or in various combinations of the expressions in 10 initial markets around the world including Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and Global Travel Retail.

Stephen Marshall, single malts global marketing manager, said: “We have been patiently reserving casks and are now ready to share the five distinguished malts with whisky lovers around the world.

“Up until now, these amazing liquids have been Scotland’s best-kept secret, known only to a few. Now we’re appealing to single malt drinkers – people who like stories and enthusiasts who are interested in exploring the aromas of the world’s most complex spirit.”

Marshall told Drinks International: “If you ask whether we are doing it, the answer is probably yes.”

Aultmore 12-year-old will be available from November with a 21-year-old Travel retail and 25-year-old released in limited qualities.

Aberfeldy is repackaged and available globally as a 12-year-old and 21-year-old, with an 18-year-old Travel Retail exclusive. A 16-year-old sherry finish and 30-year-old is set for a 2015 launch.

Craigellachie – a portfolio released for the first time – will be available a 13-year-old, 17-year-old, 19-year-old travel retail and limited 23-year-old.

In summer 2015, The Deveron 12-, 18- and 25-year-old single malts will be released.

Previously released as a limited edition 35-year-old £10,000 a bottle, Royal Brackla will be released in March as 12-year-old, 16-year-old and 21-year-old expressions.

John Burke, dark spirits category director, said: “The single malt category is one of our industry’s great growth opportunities. We are blessed with five of Scotland’s finest, high-quality whiskies.

“We have great respect for the category and are confident that each of the Last Great Malts will be a fitting addition to the repertoire of the most discerning single malt enthusiast.”

The first showing of the Last Great Malts single malt collection will be at Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival starting on September 25

CRAIGELLACHIE
13 aged years

46 %
No: 83 - LH 88
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Old Fashioned in 1891
Edward & Mackie, Founders
Our distillery built on a rocky bluff situated above
The confluence of the river Fiddich and the river Spey
Craigellachie lies in the heart of Speyside
Founders Alexander Edward / Peter Mackie
Edward & Mackie makers of Craigellachie Speyside Single Malt
No Chill - Filtering
Craigellachie Distillery, Moray

A style seldom met
In 1891 a whisky expert noted that Craigellachie represented a style whisky "seldom met
with now ", which we took as a compliment. Today we still use old - fashioned worm - tubs to cool our spirit and bestow it with extra flavor, creating a dram to rival whiskies twice its age.

Worm Tubs
A worm Tub is a long copper tube, sitting in a large tank of cold water, which snakes back and forth and gradually gets narrower.

In 1891 many distilleries condensed their spirit this way, giving their whiskies a distinctive, meaty character. Craigellachie is one of very few still benefiting from this traditional technique.

CRAIGELLACHIE
Distilling batch number:
No: 98 - ZC 21
Aged 17 years

46 %
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Old Fashioned in 1891
Edward & Mackie, Founders
Rested in Hand made oak casks for a
Minimum of seventeen years for a
rich full character
with flavours reminigent of toffee &
dried fruits
guaranted small Batch - all our Spirit
Made on the same still in a single season
Founders: Alexander Edward and Peter Mackie
No Chill - Filtration
Distilled and Bottled in Scotland by
The Craigellachie Distillery Company
Makers of Cragellachie Speyside Single Malt
Craigellachie Distillery Moray Scotland

A style seldom met
In 1891 a whisky expert noted that Craigellachie represented a style of whisky "seldom met with now" which we took as a compliment.
Today we still use old - fashioned worm tubs to cool our spirit and bestow it with extra flavour, creating a dram to rival whiskies twice its age.

Our Own Malt
Our malt is not supplied to any other distillery. It has a uniquely heavy character which
we preserve by grinding it finer than anyone else does, using a very efficient Steinecker
mash tun. It is also shallower and drains better than the deeper tuns do, holding onto
less water so that the malt's character is less diluted. So when we say that Craigellachie
is a malt whisky we mean it.

CRAIGELLACHIE
Batch. No: 67 KA 23
Aged 23 years

46 %
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Old Fashioned in 1891
Edward & Mackie , Founders
Type: SIGNATURE 2 3 Y/O SINGLE MALT
Note: Sitting stubbornly stop a rock in Speyside,
our distillery uses rare WORM TUB condensers
to impart unusually strong sulphury flavours
to its spirit.
No chill - filtering
Founders: Alexander Edward / Peter Mackie
Makers of Craigellachie Speyside Single Malt
Craigellachie Distillery, Moray, Scotland

A style seldim met
In the 1890s whisky expert Alfred Barnard noted that Craigellachie represented and
old - fashioned style of whisky "seldom met with now'. Which we took as a compliment.

Ever since, we have stubbornly maintained the methods that make our whisky so dis-
tinctive. It"s why we are one of the very few distilleries that still use WORM TUBES to
cool the spirit from the stills. They bestow it with extra flavours of a strong sulphury
nature and help to create a gutsy dram that rivals whiskies twice its age.

The distillery cat
At one time the distillery had a cat which liked to warm itself high up in the stillhouse.
however, when it smelt the vapour coming from the spirit as it rode up the still, it
would run away. Seeing the cat move, the STILLMEN knew that it was time to turn
the steam of, making for an unusual team effort.

CRAIGELLACHIE INFO
Age 24 years

52 %
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
FROM A SINGLE CASK
Date Distilled 15th August 1990
Cask Type: Refill Hogsheadex / Bourbon
Outturn: One of Only 288 Bottles

Society Single Cask: Code: 4 4 . 6 4

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh

"You can fly"

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle has been

passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world and approved for re-

lease as a Society bottling.

Only single cask whiskies that promise to intrigue, entertain and delight our members

are selected, true to our motto: “TO LEAVE NO NOSE UPTURNED “.

On the nose childhood memories of marshmellow fruit salad, hazelnut ice cream and

cream soda with a more grown – up taste of Turkish delight and a Aviation cocktail.

Water added oraange chocolate tart, Victoria sponge and flavours of hot cross buns and Frangelico.

The initial nose felt like hugging your teddy bear which has been there for you through

thick and thin. After that uplifting moment, childhood aromas of marshmallow fruit salad

with sugared whipped cream, hazelnut ice cream and cream soda appeared.

The taste was more grown up: sugared almonds, Turkish delight and an Aviation cocktail

of maraschino liqueur, crème de violette and lemon juice.

With water bread and butter pudding, orange chocolate tart. Victoria sponge and Marshmallow Flumps emerged.

The taste now, gentle spice balanced with sweetness like a hot cross bun, cinnamon

swirl andin the finish Frangelico Italian hazelnut liqueur

CRAIGELLACHIE

2 0 0 8

9 year

46 %

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Distilled: 23/06/08

Matured in a First Fill Sherry Butt

Cask no: 900616

Bottled: 01/11/17

871 Bottles

Bottle no: 63

Natural Colour

Non Chillfiltered

The Ultimate Whisky Company.NL

CRAIGELLACHIE

Region: Speyside

THE OCTAVE

VINTAGE 2 0 0 8

7 year & 8 months old 50.6 %

Distilled 2008

Single Cask Scotch Whisky

Aged 7 years in oak casks

Cask no: 759628

Months in Octave 8

Ex Sherry Wood

Year Bottled: 2015

Bottle 78 / 119

Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky,

Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

Tasting notes:

Before: Toffee, hay, herbal white pepper, orange peel

After: Lively, Toasted oak, Caramalised orange, Fudge,

Honey.

For many years, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Limited hs experimented in the use of

differing cask sizes for the maturation of single malt and single grain scotch whiskies.

This research stemmed from the simple premise that there is more interaction between

the wood and spirit over a shorter period of time in a small cask than in a large cask,

allowing a faster melding of wood, air and alcohol.

To great delight, the spirit that resulted from this method of maturation demonstrated

a depth of quality missing from a larger cask over a similar period of storage. It had

become smoother, more balanced and was bursting with character,

With its rough edges removed, the taste profile was changed dramatically, becoming

akin to a whisky of a much more mature nature or vintage. It was polished, bright and

sparkling with intensity.

Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Limited are now proud to presnt the Octave cask range,

the culmination of many years spent refining this unque maturation process.

The spirit in this bottle is an exclusive example of a good whisky taken beyond all ex-

pectations to become rich, complex and wise beyond its years, it has been “Octave

Invigorate.

Speyside
CRAIGELLACHIE

Craigellachie, Banffshire. Licentiehouder: White Horse Distillers Ltd. Onderdeel van Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. De malt divisie van United Distillers Ltd. Eigendom van Guinness.
The Craigellachie Distillery Co werd gesticht in 1888 met als de twee belangrijkste aandeelhouders Alexander Edwar, toen al eigenaar van Benrinnes en deelnemingen in andere distilleerderijen en Peter J. Mackie, bijgenaamd 'Restless Peter', van Mackie & Co, eigenaar van Lagavulin en blender van White Horse.

De architekt was Charles Chree Doig

.
Men produceerde toen ongeveer 4500 liter spirit per week.
In 1900 werd Peter J. Mackie de alleen eigenaar. Sir Peter Mackie stierf in 1924 en de firmanaam werd toen veranderd in White Horse Distillers Ltd.
In 1927 ging White Horse samen met The Distillers Company Ltd. Craigellachie werd in 1930 onderdeel van Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. Vanwege de depressie werd Craigellachie gesloten van 1930 - 1932. In de tweede wereldoorlog werd Craigellachie gesloten (1942 - 1945). In 1948 werd Craigellachie aangesloten op het electricteitsnet.
In 1964 - 1965 werd er verbouwd en toen werden ook het aantal ketels uitgebreid van twee naar vier.
Het gedeelte van de distilleerderij dat dateerd van 1888 is nu lagerpakhuis no 1, lagerpakhuis no. 2 werd gebouwd in 1914, no 3 in 1920 en no. 4 in 1969.

Tot 1972 werden de ketels met kolen gestookt, daarna door middel van stoom van olie-gestookte ketels.
Het proceswater dat eerder van Little Conval Hill kwam, komt tegenwoordig van de Blue Hill.
Het koelwater komt van de rivier de Fiddich.
10 % van de whisky wordt gebotteld als single malt whisky, de overige hoeveelheid gaat in de blends White Horse en Logan.
Er werken 19 mensen, in 1962 waren dat er nog 50.
Craigellachie heeft een vloermouterij, Kiln en kleine vaten makerij.

De Mash tun is 9 ton, de acht Wash backs hebben elk een inhoud van 45000 liter
De twee Wash stills zijn elk 28.185 liter, evenals de twee spirit stills, ze worden met stoom verhit.
De jaarproduktie is 1,6 miljoen liter spirit per jaar. De distilleerderij manager is (2002) Archie Ness.

Guinness nam Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd over in 1986 en in 1987 The Distillers Company Ltd. Beiden tegen hun zin.In 1988 werden beide groepen van bedrijven samengevoegd en de nieuwe naam werd United Distillers

Limited. Op 12 Mei 1997 staakt de Fransman Bernard Arnault van L M V H zijn verzet tegen de fusie voor een afkoopsom van ƒ 800.000.000.

De nieuwe naam van de gefuseerden zou aanvankelijk G M G Brands worden maar op 22 Oktober wordt bekend dat de naam Diageo zou worden, afgeleid van het Latijnse woord voor dag en het Griekse woord voor wereld.

Diageo wordt het grootste drankenconcern ter wereld, groter dan Seagram en Allied Domecq samen en met een omzet van 40 miljard gulden.
Op 28 Maart 1998 verkoopt Diageo het whiskymerk Dewar en het ginmerk Bombay voor £ 1,15 miljard aan Bacardi Martini.
Het afstoten van de twee merken was een voorwaarde die door de Amerikaanse mededingingsautoriteiten was gesteld aan de goedkeuring van de fusie tussen Guinness en Grand Metropolitan.
Dewar heeft een omzet van ruim één miljard gulden en een marktaandeel van 10 %. Het merk is marktleider in de V.S.
Diageo is de overkoepelende naam voor vier company's: United Distillers & Vintners, (U.D.V.), Pilsbury, Guinness en Burger King.
Onderdeel van de verkoop houdt ook in de overname van de distilleerderijen Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie en Royal Brackla door Bacardi Martini.
Balmenach wordt in December 1997 verkocht aan Inver House.

The distillery stands on a spur of a hill overlooking the village, the precipitous Rock of Craigellachie, the winding Spey, and Telford's elegant single-span iron bridge of 1815.
The Moray and Nairn Express for 25 July 1891 published a description of "this new distillery, which has recently been completed and is now in full operation ... a most compact building, already of considerable proportions, and capable of being so enlarged as to manufacture 0 gallons of spirits per week. Mr. C.C. Doig, Elgin, the architect, has made a speciality of distillery construction, and has been able to introduce all the most modern improvements as regards labour and fuel-saving devices ... The entire building has been planned with a view to the comfort of theemployees and the convenient working of the establishment".
The Craigellachie Distillery Co. had been founded in 1888. Two men "had the principal charge of the business": Alexander Edward of Collargreen, Craigellachie, owner of Benrinnes Distillery, Aberlour, and Peter J. Mackie, of Mackie & Co. of Glasgow, distillers and wine merchants, who would within a few years launch a new blended whisky, White Horse. Other blenders and whisky merchants held minority shareholdings and members of the public were invited to invest from the mid-1890's. Alexander Edward, who had since promoted other distillery ventures, gave up his interest in 1900. From that date onwards the annual general meeting of the company provided the chairman, Peter Mackie, with a platform for strongly held opinions on the state of the whisky industry, the nation and the British Empire.
The Times, in its obituary notice on Sir Peter Mackie in 1924, observed that "he had the restlessness of a vigorous mind, and was constantly planning fresh enterprises, most of which he succeeded in carrying out". The most enduring of his achievements was the impetus he put behind the sale of White Horse. Some of the other enterprises in which he had an interest, such as the production of BBM ("Bran, Bone and Muscle") flour, mixed according to a secret recipe by machinery under the board-room floor, and which every member of Mackie's staff had to use at home, the manufacture of feeding-cake for farm animals, and of concrete slabs and partitions, the weaving of Highland tweed and the distribution of Carragheen moss, were given up, to the general relief, after his time.
"Restless Peter", as his staff called him, was an entrepreneur dedicated to exact planning, hard work and rigid discipline. He did nothing by half. In 1922, seven years after the Craigellachie Distillery Co. had been taken over by Mackie's, Sir Peter (now a baronet) organised the movement of 2,300 casks from Craigellachie to warehouses he had acquired in Campbeltown. This entailed the charter of special trains from Craigellachie to Lossiemouth - running two or three times per day for four days in all -and two steamers which sailed round the north of Scotland to the Mull of Kintyre.

The depth of Sir Peter's involvement is indicated by a visitor's impressions in 1923. For him, the arresting feature at Craigellachie was "the wonderful purification plant invented by Mr. R. Littlefield of Exeter" for treating distillery effluent; but his eye also lingered on the "carefully-tended gardens" of the "trim little cottages occupied by the employees". There was an annual inspection of the gardens by the directors, followed by a presentation of prizes for those that were best kept.
Mackie & Co. changed its name to White Horse Distillers Ltd. after Sir Peter died in 1924. Three years later, it joined forces with The Distillers Company Limited. Craigellachie, in common with all other malt whisky distilleries owned by companies in the Group, was transferred to another subsidiary, Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd., in 1930. It was closed from 1930-32, at the peak of the economic depression, and again from 1942-45 because of wartime restrictions on the supply of barley to distillers.
The distillery was lighted by paraffin lamps until about 1948, when it was connected to the national grid. Machinery in the mash house and tunroom was then driven by an Abernethy steam engine. A waterwheel was used to drive the wash still rummager up to 1964. The still-house, mash house and tunroom were rebuilt, and the number of pot stills increased from two to four in 1964-65. All that remains of the original* Victorian distillery is part of No.1 warehouse and the former floor makings (now part of No.4 warehouse). The other part of No.1 was added later, possibly in 1902. No.2 warehouse was built in 1914, No.3 in 1920 and No.4 was converted in 1969.
One of the reasons for locating a distillery at Craigellachie at the peak of the railway age must have been the good communications with Elgin, Aberdeen and the South via Craigellachie Junction Station. Supplies of barley, coal, empty casks and yeast came in by rail, and filled casks of whisky went out by the same route, until SMD ceased to use the Speyside line in 1967. Coal was delivered in 25-ton lorries from Aberdeen until 1972, when the heating of stills from a coal furnace was replaced by internal heating by steam from an oil-fired boiler.
The site of the distillery covers 4 acres (1.6 hectares). SMD owns the rights to a supply of spring water on the hill of Little Conval and in the area feeding Allachoy Burn. This is used for mashing. Cooling water is drawn from the River Fiddich.
SMD own 17 houses for occupation by employees at the distillery. The licensed distillers are White Horse Distillers Ltd., Glasgow, proprietors of White Horse and Logan blended Scotch Whiskies.

October 2005
Diageo has announced that its 2005 Annual Rare Malts Selection will be the last.
The collection will consist of four cask strenght single malts from closed distilleries; Glen Mhor 28 years old, Millburn 35 years old, Glendullan 26 years old and Linkwood 30 years old.
Dr. Nicholas Morgan, global malts marketing director commented: 'As the Special Releases are now well established, it makes less sence to continue selecting and promoting a parallel series of Rare Malts with his own separate indentity'.
In future, all premium and rare whiskies will be made available in the annual Special Re-leases series

CRAIGELLACHIE ( L & B Bar Amsterdam Leon Elshof )

Aleid en ik hebben vorig jaar april besloten om een whiskybotteling te geven aan iedereen die ons dierbaar is. Welke, wanneer, hoe en wat was toen nog niet bekend. Na 31 oktober ben ik op zoek gegaan naar een mooie botteling. Het is deze Craigellachie geworden.

Waarom deze fles? In het dorp Craigellachie heb ik Aleid ten huwelijk gevraagd, in 2002 zijn wij getrouwd en zoals jullie kunnen lezen is de whisky gebotteld op de geboortedag van Aleid.

Ik hoop dat jullie bij het drinken van deze whisky een moment terug denken aan Aleid en wat ze voor ons heeft betekent .Dank voor Julie steun en liefde in de afgelopen maanden. Gu bràth mèin gràdh. Leon.

John Dewar & Sons launches Last Great Malts collection

September, 2014
John Dewar & Sons has announced plans to release a range of new expressions and single malts.
Aultmore, Aberfeldy, Craigellachie, The Deveron and Royal Brackla will be launched under the "Last Great Malts" title - each release featuring an age statement.
The single malts will be released in phases as a complete set of five or in various combinations of the expressns in 10 initial markets around the world including Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and Global Travel Retail.
Stephen Marshall, single malts global marketing manager, said: "We have been patiently reserving casks and are now ready to share the five distinguished malts with whisky lovers around the world.
"Up until now, these amazing liquids have been Scotland's best-kept secret, known only to a few. Now we're appealing to single malt drinkers - people who like stories and enthusiasts who are interested in exploring the aromas of the world's most complex spirit."
Marshall told Drinks International: "If you ask whether we are doing it, the answer is probably yes."

Aultmore 12-year-old will be available from November with a 21-year-old Travel retail and 25-year-old released in limited qualities.
Aberfeldy is repackaged and available globally as a 12-year-old and 21-year-old, with an 18-year-old Travel Retail exclusive. A 16-year-old sherry finish and 30-year-old is set for a 2015 launch.
Craigellachie - a portfolio released for the first time - will be available a 13-year-old, 17-year-old, 19-year-old travel retail and limited 23-year-old.
In summer 2015, The Deveron 12-, 18- and 25-year-old single malts will be released.
Previously released as a limited edition 35-year-old £10,000 a bottle, Royal Brackla will be released in March as 12-year-old, 16-year-old and 21-year-old expressions.
John Burke, dark spirits category director, said: "The single malt category is one of our industry's great growth opportunities. We are blessed with five of Scotland's finest, high-quality whiskies.
"We have great respect for the category and are confident that each of the Last Great Malts will be a fitting addition to the repertoire of the most discerning single malt enthusiast."
The first showing of the Last Great Malts single malt collection will be at Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival starting on September 25

Craigellachie is sulphur comes from barley and is naturally produced during the whisky-making process. If you cut down the amount of copper available to spirit vapour the higher the sulphur levels in the new make will be. What appears to not have been understood is that this sulphur disappears in time. It acts as a marker; an indication that once its cloak has been lifted a spirit will emerge either as meaty (Cragganmore, Mortlach, Benrinnes) or fragrant (Glenkinchie, Speyburn, Balblair, AnCnoc, and Craigellachie) In other words, sulphur can be desirable.

Craigellachie revels in its sulphurous nature. The first thing you smell as you enter the distillery is the notes of cabbage and beef stock. This is rising from the worm tubs which sit at the back of the distillery. It is the small amount of copper contained within them that helps to promote this character. They also add weight to the palate of the mature spirit.

Long fermentation has however fixed fruitiness within the spirit and this tropical/floral note emerges in the mature spirit. It’s this character: full, yet aromatic which has made Craigellachie a prized malt for blending: it has been a major contributor to White Horse since the late 19th century – with the result that it had to wait until 2014 to receive its promotion to the rank of front-line malts.

The village of Craigellachie was an important hub in whisky’s history as it was here, in 1863, that the railway lines from Lossiemouth (north), Dufftown (south), Keith (east), and the Strathspey Railway (south west) met, allowing rail transport between Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth within the region.

Craigellachie’s distillery, however, was only built in 1890. Designed by Charles Doig, it was built with all modern conveniences with the express intention of making a lighter fruitier character than the older distilleries – one of the earliest descriptors of Craigellachie mentions pineapple as a desireable aroma.

Its owners were Sir Peter Mackie (of White Horse) and Alexander Edward who though only 25 when the distillery was built was already the lessee of Benrinnes. He also owned a local brickworks, built new villas in the growing village and, in 1896, constructed a large hotel. He would go on to build Aultmore, Dallas Dhu and Benromach.

Edward pulled out in 1900 to concentrate on those other interests, leaving Craigellachie in White Horse’s ownership. It was the core malt within Mackie’s Old Smuggler and Old Gaelic brands which were hugely successful in Australia and South Africa.

White Horse – and therefore Craigellachie – became part of DCL but when that firm merged with IDV in 1998, the Monopolies Board insisted that it sell off some of its estate – specifically John Dewar & Sons and five distilleries, one of which was Craigellachie. They were snapped up by Bacardi which still owns the distillery.

1863

The railway lines from Lossiemouth,

Dufftown, Keith and Strathspey meet

in Craigellachie for the first time

1890

Charles Doig builds a modern distillery

in the village for Sir Peter Mackie and

Alexander Edward

1896

Craigellachie Hotel built

1900

Edward sells his share to Mackie,

owner of White Horse Distillers

1927

White Horse Distillers is bought by DCL

1964

Two new stills are installed during a

refurbishment

1968

Maltings are closed

1998

United Distillers sells Craigellachie,

along with Aberfeldy, Aultmore and

Brackla to John Dewar & Sons

2004

First bottlings from new owners:

14 years old to replace the 12 year

F & F Series, and a 21 years old

CS for The Craigellachie Hotel

2014

A 13 , 17, 23 year old and a 18

year old for duty free are

released

2015

A 31 year old released

2016

A 1994 and 33 year old Madeira

Wood SC are released

2018

A 24 year old, a 17 year old Palo

Cortado Finish for duty free are

released and a 51 year old

2019

A 19 year old and a 25 years old are released

2020

Capacity: 4.100.000 Ltrs

Output: 3.800.000 Ltrs

A 39 year old is released

2021

A 33 old is released in the core range

2022

A 13 years old Armagbac finish is released

150.000 Bottles of Craigellachie are sold by

the owners

Craigellachie is the only distillery in this group

using worm tubs

CAPACITY (MLPA)

CONDENSER TYPE

Worm tub

FERMENTATION TIME

56hrs

FILLING STRENGTH

70%

GRIST WEIGHT (T)

HEAT SOURCE

Wash stills - pans, spirit

stills - coils

MALT SPECIFICATION

1-2ppm

MALT SUPPLIER

Boortmalt Glenesk

MASH TUN TYPE

Steineker full Lauter

NEW-MAKE STRENGTH

70%

SPIRIT STILL CHARGE (L)

21,500

SPIRIT STILL SHAPE

Bulb

SPIRIT STILL SIZE (L)

28,185

STILLS

WAREHOUSING

Westhorn/Poniel

WASH STILL CHARGE (L)

23,500

WASH STILL SHAPE

Bulb

WASH STILL SIZE (L)

28,185

WASHBACK SIZE (L)

47,000

WASHBACK TYPE

Wood

WASHBACKS

WATER SOURCE

Blue Hill dam

WORT CLARITY

Medium

YEAST TYPE

Kerry Bio Science liquid yeast

Bacardi

1998 - present

John Dewar & Sons

Diageo

1997 - 1998

United Distillers

1986 - 1997

Distillers Company Limited

1927 - 1986

Mackie & Co

1916 - 1927

Craigellachie-Distillery Co

1890 - 1916

Malt: Concerto

Mashing: Steinecker full lauter

Mash Tun: 21 mashes a week

Washbacks: 8 larch – 47.000 litres fill

Fermentation times: 56 – 60 hours

Stills: 4 pair a 56.370 litres capacity

Wash still charge: 23.500 litres

Spirirt still charge: 23.000 litres

Worm tub:condensing

Capacity:4.1 000.000 litres

ALEXANDER EDWARD

You might think that building four distilleries, running a fifth, creating a village and building a hotel would be sufficient to elevate you to the status of ‘whisky legend’, never mind whisky hero. But the man who did all of these things, Alexander Edward, has been relegated to ‘forgotten hero’ instead. Such are the ways of life. Dave Broom tries to redress the balance.

27 March 1944: Alexander Edward (right) takes General Montgomery (left) fishing on the River Findhorn (photo: Forres Heritage Trust)

The young tyro, who would eventually become a respected elder, was born on 5 December 1865 in Wester Gauldwell, Boharm, Moray. His father, David Edward, was already an experienced distiller, who would acquire the licence for Benrinnes and own land on the outskirts of the village of Craigellachie.

It would be there, in 1890, that Alexander’s active whisky life would start when, at age 25, he would join a consortium with Peter Mackie to purchase his father’s land and build the Craigellachie distillery.

When his father died three years later, Alexander Edward inherited Benrinnes and promptly formed another consortium, to whom he sold the distillery for £32,000. He retained some stock and contributed to manage both it and Craigellachie.

Perhaps some of the money was used to fund a holiday he took in 1894, which was written up by the National Guardian on 20 April of that year. The very fact that this would be considered of public interest suggests the young Mr Edward was already something of a celebrity. The paper reported:

‘Mr. Alexander Edward… has been away for a month or two of travel up the Mediterranean. He has been to Tangiers, and various places in Morocco. From Gibraltar he was last heard of, and he was expected home in the course of this week…’

On his return, suitably tanned and energised, he got back to work, buying and expanding the brick-and-tile works in Craigellachie, introducing, as the National Guardian reported:

‘Machinery and other appliances by which a vastly increased amount of work can be accomplished…’

Edward had a plan – and it went beyond whisky. Scotland was now on the tourist trail. Balmoralism was in full flood, country sports were growing in popularity and Craigellachie had a railway junction, making the previously quiet village a hub. He began to build new villas, which could be rented out in summer.

As well as building villas (from his own bricks – which the National Guardian reported had the quality of not ‘sustaining any damage from exposure to frost’) he felt the need for a grander statement. As the Dundee Courier and Argus reported on 15 August 1896:

‘Mr Edward… saw that something more was wanted than villas to make Craigellachie the fashionable place it is now. He determined to build a first-class hotel. There was an old hotel or roadside inn… quite unsuited for modern requirements, especially of that class which it was Mr Edward’s intention to encourage to visit.’

He was aiming specifically at the well-to-do traveller, the sportsman; guests at the hotel had the use of its beat on the Spey. On 31 January 1896, the Banffshire Herald hailed him as ‘probably the most expert financier in the North of Scotland’.

At the same time as the hotel was being built, he purchased land to build Aultmore distillery, commissioning Charles Doig as the architect. He appears to have stepped back from Craigellachie the year after and switched allegiance from Mackie’s blends to those made by his close friend Tommy Dewar, with whom he shared a passion for motoring.

Craigellachie Hotel

Craigellachie Hotel: While building the hotel, Edward acquired land to build Aultmore distillery

He pops up in an anecdote recounted in Robert Bruce Lockhart’s Scotch. Two of the author’s friends were playing Bridge with Dewar and Edward, and drinking copiously. After Dewar told them off for excessive consumption, one riposted:

‘And where would the trade be, Lord Dewar, if we didn’t drink?’

Dewar put his cards down, looked at Edward for a moment, and said quite seriously:

‘Alec, there’s something in what that young fellow says.’

Despite his importance, it is Edward’s sole appearance in the histories of the time.

Although he married Cicely Mary Godman in 1899, the marriage was, according to one record, ‘not altogether successful’, and he and his wife lived separate lives in their Sanquhar estate in Forres. The town was to be the location for his last two investments in Scotch: the establishment of Benromach in 1898 and Dallas Dhu the year after. He then stepped into the background, running a whisky broking firm in Edinburgh.

Edward’s taste for the high life hadn’t left him, however, and his love of motoring resulted in him being issued with a fine for speeding in 1903, a black mark against a man who had been made a Justice of the Peace in 1898.

Like many of his colleagues, he was of philanthropic bent. In 1926, he offered to open a ‘fighting fund’ for farmers faced with the possibility of the market being flooded with cheap Russian grain, and gifted the Kintail sporting estate to the Inverness Northern Infirmary in 1928. During the Second World War, he allowed Sanquhar to be used as an auxiliary hospital.

Aultmore distillery

Ambitious plans: Alexander Edward commissioned Charles Doig as architect of Aultmore distillery (photo: Archive of John Dewar & Sons Ltd)

He passed away, aged 80, on 3 March 1946. His obituaries focused not just on his achievements in whisky; the Elgin Courant & Courier called him:

‘One of the oldest and best-known distillers in Scotland.’

And on his sporting prowess:

‘He was passionately fond both of rod and gun… Few could throw a line more expertly…’

Edward appeared to have been a man who was well-loved. Even the business reports of his ventures make space to write about his generosity and kindness. He may, as the Press & Journal reported, have been ‘one of the greatest personalities in the Scottish distilling industry’.

But more importantly, he appeared to have been loved. Why, then, is he forgotten?

Unlike his friends and associates, he wasn’t a blender. He may have been an entrepreneur, but he didn’t appear to court publicity. There is no sense that he wished to. Given his business acumen, if he had wanted to become one of the whisky barons, he had the nous to succeed.

It is time that he was recognised for his insight. Many remarkable men built distilleries. He was the only one who connected Scotland, whisky and tourism. Alexander Edward: the pioneer of whisky tourism. A man not just of his time, but of ours as well.

FIVE NEW MALTS JOIN EXCEPTIONAL CASK SERIES

May 2018

New small batch and single cask whiskies from Aultmore, Craigellachie and Aberfeldy have joined the Exceptional Cask Series sold in travel retail.

Aultmore 1986 31 Years Old

Limited release: The Aultmore 31-year-old expression was matured in ex-Sherry casks

The five single malts are the latest to join the Bacardi-owned range of limited-availability whiskies, typically bottled as single cask, double-cask or small batch expressions.

The releases were chosen by Dewar’s master blender and malt master Stephanie MacLeod and are available from select airport retailers in numbered bottles.

They include:

Aultmore 1986 (31 Year Old) Single Cask;

54.7% abv; SGD4,000 (US$2,985)/70cl

Craigellachie 1992 (24 Year Old) Small Batch;

46% abv; SGD1,368 (US$1,000)/70cl

Craigellachie 1999 (17 Year Old) Small Batch

with Palo Cortado Finish;

46% abv; £250 (US$340)/70cl

Aberfeldy 1984 (33 Year Old) Single Cask;

51.6% abv; €1,500 (US$1,800)/70cl

Aberfeldy 1999 (18 Year Old)

Small Batch Port Finish;

43% abv; SGD180 (US$135)/75cl

The Aultmore expression, matured in an ex-Sherry cask, was originally created for airport retailer DFS and its Master of Spirits 2018 event, but is now available from select retailers in Asia Pacific.

‘Maturation is my favourite part of the whisky-making process,’ said MacLeod. ‘Once the whisky is in a Bourbon or a Sherry cask, you might expect certain outcomes, but you’re certain to have a few wonderful surprises along the way.

‘It’s a question of working with the whisky and the different elements at play in maturation to achieve the right outcome.’

CRAIGELLACHIE GIVES AWAY 51 YEAR OLD WHISKY

October 2018

Craigellachie is giving away its newly launched 51-year-old whisky to fans for free, rather than bottle it for sale ‘to collect dust’.

Craigellachie 51 year old

Priceless malt: Craigellachie 51 Year Old will be shared with whisky lovers around the world without charge

In a move to rebuke ‘silly price tags’ charged for older Scotch whisky, the Speyside distillery has decided not to make its latest expression available for sale.

Instead of ‘sitting on a shelf for another 51 years collecting dust’, 51 bottles of Craigellachie 51 Year Old – ‘the world’s most uncollectable whisky’ – will be opened and shared with whisky fans around the world at special events throughout the year.

Georgie Bell, global malts ambassador for Craigellachie owner Bacardi, said the move is aimed at ‘finally shattering that glass ceiling’ of increasing whisky prices for bottles ‘that will never be drunk’.

She said: ‘This whisky has sat in a cask slumbering in a blanket of oak for 51 years. It would then potentially sit on somebody’s mantelpiece or shelf for another 51 years just in the bottle collecting dust, but whisky’s not made for that.

‘We wanted to do the unthinkable. We wanted to make a typically collectable Scotch more accessible.

‘We want to give as many people as we can the chance to try this incredible whisky, because how often does a whisky of this age and calibre actually get tasted?’

Craigellachie will host a pop-up bar – Bar 51 – from 26-28 November at Milroy’s in London, where just six seats will be made available at any one time.

The bar will offer pours of Craigellachie 51 as well as drams from within the distillery’s range free of charge.

Following its London debut, the bar will tour Australia, South Africa and the US over the coming months.

Just 150 tickets for Bar 51 will be allocated by ballot, with reservations opening to the public at 9am on 29 October at www.craigellachie.com/bar51.

Bottled from a single cask of whisky – distilled in 1962 at a time when Craigellachie’s two stills were coal fired – the 40.3% abv expression is described as having notes of ripe orchard fruits and waxed lemons, creamy vanilla and sweet cereal.

Stephanie Macleod, malt master for Craigellachie, said: ‘51 years encased in oak is an extraordinary length of time. Starting life in 1962 as an aggressive beast, the whisky over five decades has developed a softer side yet still retains the distinct umami, muscular note that Craigellachie is known for.’

Prices for single malt Scotch whisky have been increasing in recent years, with 50-year-old expressions from some distilleries fetching as much as £50,000.

In March this year Macallan released 200 bottles of a 50-year-old, each with a £25,000 price tag, while earlier this month Johnnie Walker unveiled its oldest whisky to date, also a 50-year-old, for US$25,000 a bottle.

In 2017 Dalmore released a £50,000 50-year-old, bottled in a Baccarat crystal decanter, to mark master blender Richard Paterson’s 50 years working in whisky.