Introduction

This Craigellachie 11 Year Old, bottled by Decadent Drinks for their August 2025 release, caught my eye largely because I’ve come to associate this distillery with a kind of old-school, muscular Speyside character that’s increasingly rare. I was curious to see how it would show at this relatively young age and at full cask strength. Craigellachie can carry weight and texture even early on, so I had some decent expectations—but didn’t expect just how forceful this one would be.

Nose

Right off the bat, the nose doesn’t try to charm—it's more about asserting its presence. There’s a slightly burnt sulphur note that leans more towards struck match than anything rotten, layered over waxed lemons, linseed oil, and a whiff of beef stock. With a bit of air, things start to open up: I caught toasted cereals, hints of machine oil, and even the faintest touch of Granny Smith apple in the background. It's not sweet or soft, but rather tough and kind of industrial—something I personally like in small doses.

Palate

The arrival is pretty intense. It lands with a sharp peppery hit carried by a thick mouthfeel, and again that waxiness returns, edged by scorched copper and burnt butter. There's still a savoury backbone running through the entire dram—think grilled onions, bone broth, and a dash of cracked black pepper. That sulphury element is more controlled on the palate than on the nose, and I found that a few drops of water really steadied things, letting more orchard fruit and some tempered vanilla from the bourbon barrel emerge.

Finish

This whisky lingers longer than I expected. The finish is mainly dry and spicy, with bitter orange peel, charred oak, and a return of the meat broth note—sort of like the last sip of French onion soup. There’s something slightly mineral too, a chalky edge that sticks around after the spice fades. It’s not a comforting finish, but rather one that keeps tugging at your attention.

Price and Value

These Decadent Drinks bottlings generally come at a mid-premium price point—this one wasn’t cheap, but not overly steep either considering it’s natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at cask strength. For those who enjoy robust and sulphury profiles, you’re getting honest flavour and a distillate-driven experience. If you’re not used to sulphur or can’t get past it, you may feel like the value isn’t there. For me, it was interesting and worth it, even if it’s not a bottle I’d reach for regularly.

Background

Craigellachie is a distillery that doesn’t chase trends. Located in the heart of Speyside, it’s known for producing malts that have structure and heft, even youthfully. The spirit is made using worm tub condensers, which contributes significantly to its dense and meaty character. This particular 11-year-old was aged in ex-bourbon wood—most likely a refill cask, based on the reserved sweetness and minimal oak-driven vanilla.

The bottler, Decadent Drinks, has a reputation for choosing casks that put the spirit itself front and centre. Their selections are rarely shy, usually geared towards whisky drinkers who appreciate boldness over polish.

Final Notes

Would I buy this bottle again? Probably not immediately, but I’m glad I got to try it—there’s something rewarding about whiskies that challenge you rather than just offer easygoing comfort. Is it beginner-friendly? Not really. The sulphur, savoury profile, and high ABV could easily put off someone just getting into single malts. But for seasoned drinkers who like the gritty side of Scotch, it’s oddly satisfying.

What kind of moment suits this whisky? I’d say it’s more of a solo dram, something to sit with when you're okay with something less easygoing. And how does it compare to lighter Speysiders? Totally different league—this is Craigellachie doing what only Craigellachie really does, with all its quirks intact.