Craigellachie 1998 13 Year Un-Chillfiltered Collection (Signatory)

I paid too much for this bottle, though I have a fondness for Craigellachie. The standard entry-level Craigellachie bottling is also a 13 year old. It costs under 60 USD and is significantly superior to this. That said, this is a captivating bottle that I don't regret buying. It's a reserved, intense, intricate whisky. It's skillfully made and full of subtleties, but I found it challenging to revisit, similar to how re-watching a somber film would be difficult. It took over a year to finish this bottle, and it felt quite disheartening each time. The vibrant fruit notes of Craigellachie are still detectable, but they're subdued by a sourdough maltiness and the harshness of oak and lemon peel. The palate is marked by a delayed emergence of Lapsong Suchong tea. This is one of the finest examples of this characteristic in a whisky I've encountered to date. As a Chinese person, I can assure you that most whisky reviewers who mention "Lapsong Suchong" in their tasting notes are clueless. Smoked Chinese black tea is an acquired preference. Discerning tea enthusiasts who enjoy steeping their single servings with hibiscus petals should avoid this. This unwelcoming note persists into the finish, which also contains hints of orange zest and star anise. It resembles a traditional Chinese spirit: not sweet at all, savory, with herbal bitterness and a slight smokiness. You need to be in the correct frame of mind for this whisky. It's not uplifting; it's not for forgetting troubles; it's not for celebrating. This is a spirit for solitary contemplation. Rating (Price not included): 84 / 100 Purchase Satisfaction (Price included): 3 / 5