Craigellachie 2007 / 16 Year Old / Old Malt Cask Speyside Whisky

Sophie Brennan — Good but expected more for the age

7/10

Tried this neat at a tasting and it's perfectly drinkable — toffee, dried apricot, a bit of malt biscuit. The 50% carries it well without being hot. Honestly though, for a 16-year-old I wanted a longer finish. It just sort of fades where I thought it would linger.

Jorge Castillo — Good but expected more for the age

7/10

Tried this neat at a tasting and it's perfectly drinkable — toffee, dried apricot, a bit of malt biscuit. The 50% carries it well without being hot. Honestly though, for a 16-year-old I wanted a longer finish. It just sort of fades where I thought it would linger.

Yuki Nakamura — Good but expected more for the age

7/10

Tried this neat at a tasting and it's perfectly drinkable — toffee, dried apricot, a bit of malt biscuit. The 50% carries it well without being hot. Honestly though, for a 16-year-old I wanted a longer finish. It just sort of fades where I thought it would linger.

Tariq Hassan — This is what IB Speyside should taste like

9/10

Bought a bottle after sampling at my local and I'm glad I did. The nose is all honey and ripe pear, neat it opens into baking spices and this lovely creamy vanilla that I associate with good refill casks. At 50% you get the full experience without needing to add water, though a few drops bring out even more fruit. One of my favourite Craigellachies so far.

Astrid Nilsen — This is what IB Speyside should taste like

9/10

Bought a bottle after sampling at my local and I'm glad I did. The nose is all honey and ripe pear, neat it opens into baking spices and this lovely creamy vanilla that I associate with good refill casks. At 50% you get the full experience without needing to add water, though a few drops bring out even more fruit. One of my favourite Craigellachies so far.

Nia Okafor — This is what IB Speyside should taste like

9/10

Bought a bottle after sampling at my local and I'm glad I did. The nose is all honey and ripe pear, neat it opens into baking spices and this lovely creamy vanilla that I associate with good refill casks. At 50% you get the full experience without needing to add water, though a few drops bring out even more fruit. One of my favourite Craigellachies so far.

Freya Lindqvist — Solid IB pick but not cheap

8/10

I like Old Malt Cask bottlings and this one doesn't disappoint. Classic Craigellachie meatiness softened by the age, with stewed plums and a touch of sulphur that blows off after five minutes in the glass. At £96 it's fair for a 16-year-old at cask strength, though I've had comparable Speysides for less.

Tomas Rivera — Solid IB pick but not cheap

8/10

I like Old Malt Cask bottlings and this one doesn't disappoint. Classic Craigellachie meatiness softened by the age, with stewed plums and a touch of sulphur that blows off after five minutes in the glass. At £96 it's fair for a 16-year-old at cask strength, though I've had comparable Speysides for less.

Suki Patel — Solid IB pick but not cheap

8/10

I like Old Malt Cask bottlings and this one doesn't disappoint. Classic Craigellachie meatiness softened by the age, with stewed plums and a touch of sulphur that blows off after five minutes in the glass. At £96 it's fair for a 16-year-old at cask strength, though I've had comparable Speysides for less.

Kenji Watanabe — Punchy Speyside with serious depth

9/10

At 50% ABV this Craigellachie has real weight behind it. Got loads of baked orchard fruit on the nose, then this gorgeous waxy honey thing develops with a hit of gentle smoke underneath. Sixteen years in that cask did wonders — I keep going back to the glass and finding something new each time.

Amira Benali — Punchy Speyside with serious depth

9/10

At 50% ABV this Craigellachie has real weight behind it. Got loads of baked orchard fruit on the nose, then this gorgeous waxy honey thing develops with a hit of gentle smoke underneath. Sixteen years in that cask did wonders — I keep going back to the glass and finding something new each time.

Derek Chang — Punchy Speyside with serious depth

9/10

At 50% ABV this Craigellachie has real weight behind it. Got loads of baked orchard fruit on the nose, then this gorgeous waxy honey thing develops with a hit of gentle smoke underneath. Sixteen years in that cask did wonders — I keep going back to the glass and finding something new each time.