Glenallachie 12 Years Old 2009 Cask #900857 (Signatory)

Signatory Vintage bottled this GlenAllachie, a 12 year old, distilled in 2009, from cask 900857, at 66.2%, bottled for a whisky festival. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. It was founded in 1967, designed by the architect William Delme Evans, his fourth distillery after Jura and Tullibardine.

Run slowly off the spirit still, for the rich, sherried make GlenAllachie is known for. It was fully matured in an Oloroso cask, the wood deep in the rich spirit. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich GlenAllachie make. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At 66.2%, undiluted, it is dark and full. Date, fig and a warm cinnamon, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.