This bottling was tasted as part of our Spirits Embassy tasting on 2/11/21.
This Octave Craigellachie has been aged for 13 years in oak casks, it has then spent 3 months in Octave cask #7529523. Only 71 bottles came from this cask when it was bottled in 2021.
For many years, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Limited has 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. The spirit in this bottle is an exclusive example of good whisky taken beyond all expectations to become rich, complex and wise beyond its years; it has been ‘Octave Invigorated’
The Spirits Embassy
Appearance
Mid gold in colour, a thinner swirl line that beads up straight away and slowly drops medium thick legs. #thewhiskeychaps
Nose
This also has floral notes but also smells a little more rounded, and it has a faint botanical/gin nose too. I’m getting grains too here, perhaps flapjack, tart pastry. #thewhiskeychaps
I’m also getting a mustard type of spice, I’ve had it before, only faint and I like it. I’d have to agree with tropical fruits too now, guava and yes seared pineapple @whiskyodyssey #thewhiskeychaps
We have had some good Craigellachies coming through the nosing panel recently, nice to see some distilleries that dont normally get talked about getting some glory. #thewhiskeychaps
— Ian Logan (@iantheguardian) November 2, 2021
Palate
Lots more fruit on the palate, much sweeter, with sweet lemon, caster sugar, vanilla, apricots, a lovely mouthfeel again. Was this 1st fill bourbon originally? #thewhiskeychaps
As it’s developing it is becoming more chocolatey, toffee, sticky, like a curly wurly. Topical fruits are here, quite strong tbh, espresso, and earthiness too, definitely a dirty dram this. #thewhiskeychaps
Palate: Nice and viscous mouthfeel (maybe not as oily as the Miltonduff) Fruit filled dark bitter chocolates (cherry, strawberry and blackberry). #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) November 2, 2021
Still very nice though, and it's developing nicely too. #thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) November 2, 2021
Finish
Lingering spices, mince pies with a dusting of caster sugar, stewed dark fruits, cigar leaves, really dark chocolate, char, black liquorice, cardamom. #thewhiskeychaps
My thoughts
My experience with Craigellachie is limited, i think iv’e only tried 1 or 2, so this was to be a new experience for me. I did smile when this one got quite “dirty”, it develops very well, and offers a good range of aromas and flavours.
For those more experienced whisky drinkers who know they love a dirty dram, they may well enjoy this one, Ian called it “muddled”, it’s better than that in my opinion, it certainly has its place, and i really enjoyed it.
Finish: a bit shorter than I’d have liked, ginger spice against a creamy backdrop#thewhiskeychaps
— Single Malt Mike 🥃 (@whiskyodyssey) November 2, 2021
Notes – This whisky is from a single cask, is non chill filtered, natural coloured and at natural cask strength.
Thanks to – Ian Logan – @iantheguardian, senior manager of whisky and hospitality at Duncan Taylor, and Mike – @whiskyodyssey, for joining us on this tasting, and for letting me use their tweets in my review, we had a great evening. You can follow Ian and Mike below.
Our tasting schedule can be found on our website, Thewhiskeychaps.com
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