Craigellachie 17 Year Old Scotch Whisky

Craigellachie 17 Year Old is a 750mL single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 46% ABV, non-chill filtered and with no caramel colouring, from Craigellachie Distillery in Speyside, Scotland. It matures first in a mix of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, then the batch is split — half finished in first-fill Sherry casks, half in first-fill Bourbon casks — before marrying, giving the distillery's heavy worm-tub spirit two kinds of first-fill oak in one glass. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.

• ABV: 46% (92 proof)
• Size: 750mL
• Age: 17 years
• Casks: Ex-Bourbon + ex-Sherry, then 50% first-fill Sherry / 50% first-fill Bourbon finish
• Process: Non-chill filtered, no caramel colouring, worm-tub condensed
• Origin: Craigellachie Distillery, Speyside, Scotland (est. 1891)

The Awkward Age, and All the Better For It

Craigellachie famously bottles at odd ages — 13, 17, 23 — because the distillery bottles when the spirit is ready, not when the calendar is round. The 17 is where the distillery's defiant character settles in: oil-fired barley and worm-tub condensers give a robust, muscular spirit shot through with pineapple, and seventeen years plus the double first-fill finish polish it without sanding it down. Founded in 1891 above the meeting of the Spey and the Fiddich, the distillery spent most of its life supplying Dewar's blends before its malts were launched in 2014 under Malt Master Stephanie Macleod. See the other ages on the Craigellachie vendor page and in our Scotch whisky collection.

Tasting Notes

The brand's official notes describe a smooth, mellow malt: vanilla opening into rich, silky exotic fruit and canned pineapple, with a hint of smoky liquorice — the house pineapple character riding a robust, muscular frame.

How to Enjoy

Neat or with a few drops of water; at 46% unfiltered it rewards a tulip glass and a little patience. More Speyside malts are in our whisky collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Craigellachie bottled at 17 years?
The distillery bottles at unconventional ages — 13, 17, 23 — choosing the age by the spirit's readiness rather than round numbers; the 17 is a core-range expression.

Is Craigellachie 17 chill filtered?
No — the whole Craigellachie range is bottled at 46% ABV, non-chill filtered, with no caramel colouring added.

What makes Craigellachie taste different from other Speyside malts?
Its worm-tub condensers and oil-fired barley produce a heavier, meatier spirit than the Speyside norm, with a signature pineapple note running through the range.

Seventeen years, two first-fill finishes — order Craigellachie 17 Year Old online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.