Glenallachie 35 Years Old SMS Anniversary Selection (Speciality Drinks Ltd)

This GlenAllachie was bottled by Speciality Drinks Ltd, a 35 year old, at 46.9%, one of 685 bottles. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt known for its heavy sherry and wine cask maturation. It was mothballed in 1985 and reopened in 1989, a modern distillery by Speyside standards. It runs unusually long fermentations, up to a hundred and sixty hours, for a thick, ester rich and fruity spirit.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, for a thick, ester rich spirit the casks then deepen. An Oloroso cask held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. In its ethereal years the malt turns waxy and oxidative, faded esters and a whisper of sotolon over dark fruit. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Active first fill wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At an approachable 46.9% it is soft and fruity. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is GlenAllachie's deep, fruity Speyside style.