New Exclusive “Old Particular” Release – Craigellachie 21 Year Old Single Barrel Cask

The Final Single Malt From Our Recent “Old Particular” Container 1995 Craigellachie 21 Year Old “Old Particular” ($89.99) “It’s the whole package and it’s here for a price that destroys any competitor on the market.” – David Driscoll, K&L Assistant Head Buyer.

There was a time at K&L when we had to explain to our customers where Craigellachie distillery was and what kind of whisky was made there. A few years ago, after prices for single barrels of single malt began to explode and availability for mature sherry-aged whiskies became scarce, we turned to the Dewar’s-owned distillery to replace some of the more popular brands on our shelf when we felt the prices were out of reach. Craigellachie is located in Scotland’s Speyside region and makes a rich and unctuous sherry-matured malt in the style of Macallan, Glenfarclas, and Glendronach, albeit for a fraction of the price. Now, however, after Craigellachie recently won “Best Single Malt in the World” from Whisky Magazine for its prized 31 year edition, we’re getting calls right and left about the distillery. Our clandestine source of finely-matured Scotch is no longer a secret! Luckily, we bought this cask a while back and have been sitting on it, waiting for the right time to release it to the market. For less than $100, this Craigellachie 21 year—bottled by the trustworthy Old Particular label—offers Speyside fans all the richness of Oloroso-aged single malt, at full proof no less, for a price that’s almost too good to believe.

With Bacardi’s Craigellachie taking home “Best Single Malt in the World” from Whisky Magazine for its 31 year old expression, the world’s attention is now on one of the Speyside’s lesser-known distilleries. Unless you’re a K&L customer, of course, in which case you’re probably aware that we’ve been bottling sherry-aged delights from Craigellachie for years now. While we’ve done a few stunning 18 and 19 year old editions recently, this 21 year old single cask edition not only takes the cake, it puts the cake in cakebread. Loaded with rich sherry flavor, at 53.3% cask strength the richness is accented by layers of caramel and sweet Oloroso character that are lifted by the higher ABV. The real shocker is that we managed to maintain the same price as the 18 year old editions, but for an even old whisky. Considering the official Craigellachie 23 year edition sells for nearly $250, we think our customers are going to be pretty jazzed about the sub-$100 price tag. Seeing that the distillery is well on its way to establishing a wider reputation, this might be the last time we locate this kind of hot deal.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 27, 2017

This is the last single malt from our most-recent Old Particular container! No more bottles scheduled now until mid-Summer at the earliest, so take advantage of this deal as we’ve saved the best for last. 21 year old single barrel sherry-matured Craigellachie at full proof! As brands like Glendronach and Glenfarclas have priced their single casks for similar whiskies at more than double the price here, we’ve turned to the Speyside distillery for our bargain-priced needs. It’s everything you love about Oloroso-aged Speyside Scotch: cakebread, fudge, cocoa, caramel, richness and weight. It’s the whole package and it’s here for a price that destroys any competitor on the market.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 26, 2017

This is another one of those bottlings we get from time to time that just seems to good to be true. For those who love the richness that sherry can offer to Scottish whisky and want something that has age and elegance, but do not want to spend hundreds of dollars I would normally say that you are out of luck. Then I get to taste something like this and I am still a little surprised at what is in the bottle and what we are selling it for. Warm rich fruit in syrup on the nose with some almond and vanilla lead to a big rich palate. Dried fruit and brown sugar with warming spices that start and slowly grow as the Scotch sits golden on the tongue. Long finish with growing heat that never seems to overwhelm even at cask strength, all of this and it is under $100. I mean it just seems silly, but oh so drinkable.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 27, 2017

This barrel packs a punch. An inviting rich caramel nose leads to a rich and mouth coating single malt that is packed full of sherry barrel influence, with dried fruit and caramel flavors leading the way. It is full bodied and has a round mouth feel.I tasted this Craigellachie with a splash of water.