Glenallachie 12 Years Old 2007 Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop Berlin (Cadenhead’s)

Cadenhead, Scotland's oldest independent bottler, Aberdeen born in 1842 and now in Campbeltown, bottled this GlenAllachie, distilled in 2007, at 61.7%, one of 606 bottles. GlenAllachie is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, chocolate and spice. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit. It was bought in 2017 by Billy Walker and two partners, fresh from selling BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh.

Run slowly off the spirit still, for the rich, sherried make GlenAllachie is known for. An Oloroso cask held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. 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. Active first fill wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At its natural 61.7% it is rich and chewy. Date, fig and a warm cinnamon, 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, sherried Speyside single malt.