Craigallachie 13 Year

It's long since time that I try Craigallachie 13 year, a Speyside with a big reputation. This was the core whisky in Dewar's for years - and I guess it still is - but for a few years now they have issued a single malt expression as well. Bottled at 46% ABV, aged for 13 years in ex-bourbon barrels, non-chill-filtered but colored. Famous for a "sulphurous" quality due to use of a worm tub in the distilling process. 

Nose: Dry and sour: sour apple cider, heather, young leather, shag tobacco.  A strong vegetal element, very strong... I suppose this is the sulfur element everyone talks about from the worm tub they use. 

Mouthfeel: Thin and delicate. 

Palate: So fruity! Lemon, lime, orange, sour grapes, prunes. Vanilla and malted grain. Rich apple cider. Some of the dry, sour pieces from the nose. Moss, leaves -  a very, very funky vegetal taste: a little of everything! Some wispy peat and smoke...

Finish: ...the peat and smoke carry into the finish along with a resinous pine note.

Verdict: Wow! What an uncommon dram. This is a weird Speyside - all the fruit elements are here, but subservient to a dry and sour tang that carries all the way through from nose to finish. Many interesting, subtle flavors here. Very much worth a try.