The nose is immediately rich with dark and dense jam that’s a mix of berries, plums, dates, oranges, and honey, as if it was aged in a 1st fill amontillado or 2nd fill oloroso cask. It’s not nearly as pruney or intense to be from a first-fill Pedro Jimenez cask. There’s a nicely balanced addition of dark and savory mulling spices and wood to contrast the fruit and honey sweetness, as well as graham cracker-like malt to reinforce that this is a single-malt Scotch. The 53.3% alcohol is noticeable and pungent, yet well moderated and never distracting. 

     Vigorous swirling allows a slight musty grape funk to arise, as well as an extra kick of wood spices and a tiny bit of vanilla, chocolate, and something floral. There’s also a moderate apricot, grape, and dark fruit blend. The grape fluctuates between brighter green grapes and darker purple grapes and dates, revealing more of Craigellachie’s hidden treasures. The alcohol pushes its way to the front every now and then, but as a whole never detracts from the nose. Overall, Craigellachie 21 is wonderfully sweet and savory like a rich preserve with extra “fun”.