Glenallachie 11 Years Old (Moscatel Finish)

GlenAllachie from the distillery, an 11 year old, at 48%. This is part of the Wood Finish Series. GlenAllachie is a rich, sherried Speyside malt from Aberlour, built on full bodied spirit and active casks. It was built for the 1960s blend boom, its make long destined for the blender's vat. It was bought in 2017 by Billy Walker and two partners, fresh from selling BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh.

Worked unhurried through the stillhouse, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. After ex-Bourbon maturation it was finished in a Moscatel cask, the wine working into the spirit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. Active first fill wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

Bottled at a cask strength 48%, it is deep and concentrated. A deep, dark sweetness, with a grapey, floral sweetness from the cask. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a Speyside single malt of real standing.