Glenallachie Spirit of Speyside Festival 2019 13 Years Old 2006

GlenAllachie from the distillery, a 13 year old, from 2006, cask 1850, at 59.2%, 532 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a rich, sherried Speyside malt from Aberlour, built on full bodied spirit and active casks. 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.

The spirit was distilled to a full, generous cut, for a full make built to take active wood. It was fully matured in a Port cask, the wood deep in the rich spirit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At a hearty 59.2% it carries real weight. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and chocolate.