Glenallachie 10 Years Old Cask #Batch 7

GlenAllachie from the distillery, a 10 year old, cask Batch 7, at 56.8%, 66000 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a rich, sherried Speyside malt from Aberlour, built on full bodied spirit and active casks. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit. It was built by Mackinlay McPherson, the firm that supplied whisky to Shackleton's 1907 expedition.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. It was fully matured in a Pedro Ximenez 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. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

Bottled at a cask strength 56.8%, it is deep and concentrated. Fig, walnut and a bittersweet chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is the sherry led malt of Aberlour.