Glenallachie 15 Years Old 2008 Cask #3037553 (Duncan Taylor)

This GlenAllachie was bottled by Duncan Taylor, a 15 year old, distilled in 2008, from cask 3037553, at 52.8%, one of the festival bottlings. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt from the hills above Aberlour, below Ben Rinnes. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit. Its water is the Lochnagar Burn, drawn down from the slopes of Ben Rinnes. It was mothballed in 1985 and reopened in 1989, a modern distillery by Speyside standards.

The spirit was drawn from a thick, full bodied wash, for the rich, sherried make GlenAllachie is known for. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending a creamy vanilla. At oxidative maturity aldehydes lend a nutty edge while ellagitannins draw a drying, structured grip across the fruit. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

At a natural 52.8% it is full and rich. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with a warm oak spice. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and chocolate.