Glenallachie 2008 W-F (Whisky-Fässle (W-F))

This GlenAllachie was bottled by Whisky-Fässle (W-F), a 12 year old, distilled in 2008, at 51.7%. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, founded in 1967 below Ben Rinnes near Aberlour. It was built for the 1960s blend boom, its make long destined for the blender's vat. It was designed almost entirely gravity fed, an efficient plant for its time.

Distilled in copper pot stills, for a full make built to take active wood. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the fruit. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. Maturation runs slow and even in the on site dunnage warehouses at Aberlour. Active first fill wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At 51.7%, undiluted, it is dark and full. Date, fig and a warm cinnamon, lifted by a sweet oak. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.