Craigellachie is an old Scotch whisky distillery known for using worm casks to cool the whisky, which gives the spirit what it calls extra flavour and a unique “muscle character”.It is from these worm casks that a new collection has been created, utilizing “casks from the distillery that create a ‘heavier’ style of spirit that can echo the unique personality of the single malt whisky. .”
According to the people behind it, the new Craigellachie Cask Collection initially started with a 13-year-old whisky from the distillery.It was originally aged in American oak – a mix of refilled and re-charred bourbon casks – and then spent over a year in Bas-Armagnac casks from the northernmost tip of Gascony, France, for the first two maturation periods.
“Craigellachie is an unmistakably bold and contemplative malt; full-bodied and meaty, so we used these cask types to complement and enhance the winery’s signature character, rather than mask it for extra flavour and appeal ,” said Stephanie Macleod, Craigellachie’s malt master, in a prepared statement.
Often overshadowed by Cognac, Armagnac is described as “an older and more exclusive French brandy with its own traditional production process. Distilled only once through purpose-built continuous stills, in most cases, using a traditional construction The Alembic Armagnaçaise; a portable wood-fired fuel that is still designed to be transported to the small farms that produce Armagnac. Unlike most spirits, Armagnac’s makers don’t make cuts throughout the distillation process, and retention is usually Removes volatile elements, thus giving spirits more character and complexity.
“Rough at first, young Armagnac tastes fire and earth. But after decades of ageing in French oak barrels, the spirit is tamed and softened, very subtle.”
Finished in ex-French Bas Armagnac barrels, the winery team notes that the Craigellachie’s heavier flavours are softly rounded with the warmth of baked apples and sprinkled with heady cinnamon.The rich caramel shortbread flavor is offset by the signature syrupy pineapple and fiery campfire night aromas.
Craigellachie 13 Year Old Armagnac is bottled at 46% ABV and has a suggested retail price of £52.99/€49.99/$65.The expression will initially launch in the UK, Germany and France this month, before rolling out to the US and Taiwan later this year.
By the way, a worm gear is a type of condenser, also known as a coil condenser.”Worm” is the Old English term for snake, the original name for the coil.A traditional method of turning alcohol vapor back into liquid, the wire arm at the top of the still is connected to a long coiled copper tube (worm) that sits in a huge cold water bucket (bucket).These long copper tubes meander back and forth, gradually narrowing.As the vapor travels down the worm, it condenses back into liquid form.
Nino Kilgore-Marchetti is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Whiskey Wash, an award-winning whisky lifestyle website dedicated to educating and entertaining consumers around the world.As a whisk(e)y journalist, expert and judge, he has written extensively on the subject, given interviews to various media outlets, and…