Glenallachie 12 Years Old 2009 Cask #900862 (Signatory)

This GlenAllachie was bottled by Signatory Vintage, a 12 year old, distilled in 2009, from cask 900862, at 67.5%, one of 612 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 mothballed in 1985 and reopened in 1989, a modern distillery by Speyside standards.

The spirit was run slowly off the spirit still, for a full make built to take active wood. 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. Active first fill wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich GlenAllachie make. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At a natural 67.5% it is full and rich. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.