Glenallachie 21 Years Old 1996 Cask #5266 (Signatory)

Signatory Vintage bottled this GlenAllachie, a 21 year old, distilled in 1996, from cask 5266, at 43%. GlenAllachie is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, chocolate and spice. It was built for the 1960s blend boom, its make long destined for the blender's vat. It was mothballed in 1985 and reopened in 1989, a modern distillery by Speyside standards.

Worked unhurried through the stillhouse, for a full make built to take active wood. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak lending vanilla and a light honey. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body.

At 43% it is smooth and rich. Date, fig and a warm cinnamon, with a warm oak spice. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.