Glenallachie 16 Years Old (Mizunara Cask)

This official GlenAllachie, a 16 year old, at 48%, released for a whisky festival. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. It was built by Mackinlay McPherson, the firm that supplied whisky to Shackleton's 1907 expedition. It was mothballed in 1985 and reopened in 1989, a modern distillery by Speyside standards.

The spirit was run slowly off the spirit still, for a full make built to take active wood. Maturation came in a Mizunara cask, layered over the full GlenAllachie make. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich GlenAllachie make.

At 48%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with a sandalwood, incense and a spiced edge from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and chocolate.