Glenallachie 10 Years Old 2012 Rare Casks (A & G Selection)

This GlenAllachie was bottled by An and G Selection, a 10 year old, distilled in 2012, at 57.3%, one of 377 bottles. GlenAllachie is a rich, sherried Speyside malt from Aberlour, built on full bodied spirit and active casks. It was founded in 1967, designed by the architect William Delme Evans, his fourth distillery after Jura and Tullibardine. Its water is the Lochnagar Burn, drawn down from the slopes of Ben Rinnes.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, giving a full bodied Speyside spirit. It was matured in an Oloroso cask, the wood working deep into the malt. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. Active first fill wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body.

At 57.3%, undiluted, it is dark and full. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. 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.