Glenallachie Single Cask 12 Years Old 2011 (Cask 807013)

A 12 year old GlenAllachie, a distillery bottling, from 2011, cask 807013, at 61.5%, 710 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, revived in 2017 by the team of Billy Walker. It was built for the 1960s blend boom, its make long destined for the blender's vat. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit. It was founded in 1967, designed by the architect William Delme Evans, his fourth distillery after Jura and Tullibardine.

It was distilled to a full, generous cut, for the rich, sherried make GlenAllachie is known for. Maturation came in a Pedro Ximenez cask, layered over the full GlenAllachie make. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At its natural 61.5% it is rich and chewy. Fig, walnut and a bittersweet chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.