Some whiskies introduce themselves with a whisper. Others walk in with a confident step. This one? It arrives with a rich, sherried flourish. Craigellachie 12 Year Old, bottled by Hunter Laing under their acclaimed Old Malt Cask series, is a single cask expression that captures the muscular, meaty spirit of Craigellachie, softened and enriched by a full term rest in a sherry butt. One sip, and you’ll understand why this independent bottling has enthusiasts talking.

Hunter Laing – Old Malt Cask – Craigellachie 12 Year Old – Sherry Butt Cask Sample
Brand: Hunter Laing (Craigellachie) | Category: Speyside Single Malt, Independent Bottling | ABV: Approx. 50%+ (Cask Strength) | Origin: Speyside, Scotland | Vol: Sample Size

Tasting Profile:
Nose: Bold and brooding, layers of dark cherries, leather-bound books, cigar boxes, and sticky toffee pudding. A deep, rich sherry influence with that unmistakable Craigellachie "funk."
Palate: Full-bodied and complex, think roasted nuts, blackberries, treacle, and cracked pepper. There's a sulphury meatiness (in a good way) that makes it unique among Speysiders.
Finish: Long and dramatic, the sherry dries out into dark cocoa, spice rack heat, and echoes of smoky oak. It lingers like a gripping chapter from a noir novel.

Production Details:
Matured exclusively in a sherry butt, this single cask release is part of Hunter Laing’s Old Malt Cask line, known for spotlighting the true character of a distillery without chill filtration or added color. Craigellachie’s robust distillate holds up beautifully to sherry aging, producing a dram that’s dense, distinctive, and rewarding.

Perfect For:
Cold, contemplative evenings, ideally with jazz playing in the background or a good mystery novel in hand. This is not a casual pour; it’s a whisky for those who enjoy the deeper end of the pool.

Expert Notes:
Independent bottlings like this one are coveted for their raw expression of distillery DNA. Whisky lovers praise this Craigellachie for its balance of sulphuric depth, rich fruit, and oily texture, a great representation of old-school Speyside power wrapped in sherry elegance.

Customer Reviews:
🗣️ “It’s like Aberlour’s edgier cousin, rich, intense, but with a dirty grin.”   Lars M.
🗣️ “I could nose this all night. Absolutely stuffed with character.”   Denise K.
🗣️ “If Craigellachie had a greatest hits album, this cask would be track one.”   Alvin R.

Interesting Fact:
Craigellachie is one of the few distilleries that still uses worm tub condensers, contributing to its famously heavy, meaty distillate, a style once common, now rare.

Serving Suggestions:
Neat is best to appreciate the cask strength richness. A few drops of water will tame the heat and unlock hidden fruit and spice layers. Pair with blue cheese or dark chocolate for an intense flavor combo.

Distillery Background:
Built in 1891, Craigellachie has always done things differently, from its location at the meeting point of the rivers Spey and Fiddich, to its insistence on worm tubs and weighty distillate. With Hunter Laing at the helm for this bottling, the whisky shines in its natural, undiluted glory, a celebration of bold Speyside character from nose to finish.