Craigellachie – 12 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Octave Finish (The Whisky Cellar) (70cl, 55.1%)

This is a 12-year-old Craigellachie from The Whisky Cellar's Private Cellars Selection. It was married from two fresh Oloroso sherry octaves, numbers 40 and 41, and bottled at a cask strength of 55.1% in 206 bottles of 70cl. It is non-chill-filtered and free of added colour. Octaves are small casks with more wood surface relative to the liquid, which strengthens the influence of the oak. The meaty Craigellachie character still shows beneath the sherry, with savoury hints of beef broth alongside dark chocolate, honey and Christmas fruit cake. The nose offers baked apple, warm raspberries, baking cocoa and syrup. On the palate are juicy plums, plum jam, poached pear, dark chocolate, nutmeg and toffee. The finish is warming, with plums, gentle spice, syrupy toffee and oak.