Craigellachie Scotch Single Malt 33 Year Small Batch

Appearance: Slightly tarnished gold.

Nose: A compact, muscular, and dense nose. Raisins, banana, clove, polished old furniture, leather, brandy, and marzipan-filled pastries all vie for attention. Top notes of apple, honeysuckle, and a touch of durian add a fruity overtone. There’s also an almost Clynelishian waxiness, an evocative artist’s studio aroma of linseed oil, paint, and antique varnish.

Palate: There’s lots of grain-driven stuff at first – brown bread, oatmeal raisin cookie, banana bread – but then things take an unusual segue. There’s an odd, almost electric minerality, like sucking on a penny or biting into tinfoil, accompanied by pure notes of peach, nectarine, and pineapple as well as a yogurt-like acidity. The finish is very long, with tart fruit, bitter herbs, and cooling notes of mint and eucalyptus. Ample and intense, with an all-encompassing mouth feel.