Glenallachie Single Cask 14 Years Old 2008 (Cask 1852)

A distillery release of GlenAllachie, a 14 year old, from 2008, cask 1852, at 56.9%, 314 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, revived in 2017 by the team of Billy Walker. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit. It was mothballed in 1985 and reopened in 1989, a modern distillery by Speyside standards.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, for a thick, ester rich spirit the casks then deepen. A Marsala cask held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

At a natural 56.9% it is full and rich. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, with a raisined, herbal sweetness from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is the sherry led malt of Aberlour.