Glenallachie 15 Years Old (Pedro Ximenez Cask)

This official GlenAllachie, a 15 year old, at 46%. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. It matures its spirit in sixteen dunnage warehouses on the distillery site at Aberlour. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit. It was built for the 1960s blend boom, its make long destined for the blender's vat.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, 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. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

At 46% it is smooth and rich. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.