Recent Release: Craigellachie 2000-2014 13yo BBR #147

A beautifully diluted, short-aged Speyside malt. Craigellachie CRAIGELLACHIE 2000-2014 13yo BBR #147 46% The aroma features citrus, fresh floral notes, strong malty character, and vanilla. On the palate, there is some alcohol presence but no harshness; it offers fresh citrus, sesame oil-like nuances, youthful strong barley character, subtle grassy elements, a touch of sweetness and acidity, and a clean, youthful finish. [Good] This is a Craigellachie 2000 bottling aged for 13 years, diluted by BBR. Recently, apart from Islay malts and heavily sherried casks, there has been a noticeable increase in single cask Speyside malts from post-2000 vintages. While this bottle has some alcohol presence and is not a matured type, it shows a balanced influence from bourbon casks in both aroma and flavor. The unique sesame oil-like nuance was present but not off-putting, with the sweetness and acidity remaining smooth throughout, maintaining a clean impression. I believe the dilution softened any sharpness, allowing it to settle into a balanced state for its youthful character. Compared to bottles that overemphasize aging duration and become overly oaky, this one offers enjoyable flavor with clear intent. It's a malt better suited for casual sipping rather than slow, contemplative drinking, and would be ideal as the opening drink in a bar setting.