Glenallachie Single Cask 11 Years Old 2014

GlenAllachie from the distillery, an 11 year old, from 2014, cask 696, at 60.2%, 356 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, revived in 2017 by the team of Billy Walker. It was founded in 1967, designed by the architect William Delme Evans, his fourth distillery after Jura and Tullibardine. Under Walker it turned to single malt, with heavy maturation in sherry and wine casks.

The spirit was drawn from a thick, full bodied wash, for a thick, ester rich spirit the casks then deepen. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez cask, the wood working deep into the malt. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the orchard notes deepening to sultana, date and chocolate. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body. Maturation runs slow and even in the on site dunnage warehouses at Aberlour.

At a hearty 60.2% it carries real weight. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a Speyside single malt of real standing.