Craigellachie 31 Year

At 31 years old, we are presented with notes described as "First and refilled casks." It would be helpful to know the types of casks used. Nose - Classic old oak notes. Leather, oak, tropical and lemon citrus notes. Some rich toasted vanilla over more oak. Perhaps pineapple. Light custards and other mellow dessert notes. Taste - Rich. Oily. There's a distinct first fill bourbon note. And wow, this goes in many directions. Spicy pineapple over a light wood smoker. Super rich layers of caramel and vanilla. Light toasted oaks linger indefinitely here. Sweet, savory, and sour notes at the start with pepper spices in the finish. The aroma suggested a well-aged but unremarkable malt. The palate, however, transports you to a new realm of rich, intense flavors, far exceeding what just over 50% abv should deliver. That classic wormwood sulfur is strongly present with intense sweetness and overpowering spices. A truly exceptional whisky. So, the score - Let's set price aside for now. Do I like this more than some of the exceptional casks? To be honest, not really. I don't believe this uses sherry casks unless they are part of the refill. I love the richness. I love the spice. But it's not blowing me away. I'll give it a strong 4.5, but I question if the price is influencing me. So, for the price of $75 for this ounce of whisky... likely a pass.

Amazing. Fantastic fruity, botanical vanilla notes with honey and waffles soaked in maple syrup. Smell: Red Apples, Cinnamon, Honey, Caramel, Vanilla, Peaches, Pineapples, Pears, Mangoes, Leather, Raspberry Jam, Dark Chocolate, Bananas, Pork, Heather, Lemon, Buttercream Frosting, Waffles Drenched in Maple Syrup Taste: Honey, Vanilla, Pineapples, Oranges, Peaches, Bananas, Coconuts, Flowers, Heather, Oak, Leather, Waffles, Cherries, White Chocolate, Truffles Aftertaste: Vanilla, Honey, White Chocolate, Oranges, Caramel, Lychee, Truffles

Tastes like Christmas dessert in a glass.