Craigellachie

At first sight, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Craigellachie Distillery is among the young and modern Speyside distilleries alongside the likes of Braeval, Allt A Bhainne, and Auchroisk. However, Craigellachie, designed Charles Doig, was founded in 1891. Although the original pagoda and maltings are still standing, the distillery itself has lived up to its modern exterior and proven itself to be an industrious and progressive operator. Today’s Craigellachie it is all about the modern features – a technologically advanced and efficient mash tun, and stillhouse windows that open and close with the weather, dispersing heat and humidity giving the distiller respite from the sweltering distillation temperatures during the height of summer. These same windows face the main road linking the village of the same name and Dufftown, just a couple of miles away.

Despite all the mod-cons of the distillery, Craigellachie’s spirit character comes from the traditional production process, particularly its worm tubs. No modern condensing units are used - just a large tub of cold water full of copper coils. This allows for less copper contact and produces a highly sought after waxy, oily spirit.