New Release: Craigellachie 13 Year Old Official Bottling

With a retro label and adjusted to 46%, the target audience is probably somewhat of a malt enthusiast. Craigellachie CRAIGELLACHIE 13yo OB 46% The aroma has green apple, vanilla, and a gentle malty note that is clearly defined, with hints of grassy notes, heather, oak, and a light honey. Upon drinking, it offers malty flavors with nuts, orange, charred oak, vanilla, and a dry sweetness without being cloying. It also has the umami of barley, hay, and a touch of toasty character with a clean finish. [Good/Very Good] This is a new official bottling from Craigellachie, aged for 13 years. In addition to elements like green apple, vanilla, and honey that seem to originate from bourbon casks, floral notes and a gentle malty character were also detectable in the aroma. Upon tasting, there is a slightly charred nuance, but the good malty character and umami, along with a clean sweetness, left a favorable impression. While I was thinking that it might have the woody character of new casks, which is common in recent official releases with short aging periods, it turned out to be surprisingly natural and clean malt. The retro label is nice, but the adjustment to 46% makes me think it's aimed at people who have a certain level of experience with malt. It hasn't entered the domestic market yet, but it would be nice if it became available in Japan as well.