Glenallachie 10 Years Old (Original Collection)

Cadenhead bottled this GlenAllachie, a 10 year old, at 46%. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, the home distillery of master distiller Billy Walker. It was mothballed in 1985 and reopened in 1989, a modern distillery by Speyside standards. Under Walker it turned to single malt, with heavy maturation in sherry and wine casks. It was built by Mackinlay McPherson, the firm that supplied whisky to Shackleton's 1907 expedition. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a full make built to take active wood. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak lending vanilla and a light honey. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At 46% it is rich, fruity and deep. A rich, sherried sweetness, over a gentle, creamy oak. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.