Glenallachie 10 Years Old (Port Finish, Germany)

A distillery release of GlenAllachie, a 10 year old, at 48%, 3840 bottles in all. It is one of GlenAllachie's Wood Finish Series bottlings. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt from the hills above Aberlour, below Ben Rinnes. It was bought in 2017 by Billy Walker and two partners, fresh from selling BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh. It was designed almost entirely gravity fed, an efficient plant for its time.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, giving a full bodied Speyside spirit. After ex-Bourbon maturation it was finished in a Port cask, the wine working into the spirit. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the orchard notes deepening to sultana, date and chocolate. Maturation runs slow and even in the on site dunnage warehouses at Aberlour. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

Bottled at a cask strength 48%, it is deep and concentrated. A rich, sherried sweetness, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and chocolate.