Glenallachie 12 Years Old (Bourbon Cask)

A 12 year old GlenAllachie, a distillery bottling, at 43%. GlenAllachie is a rich, sherried Speyside malt from Aberlour, built on full bodied spirit and active casks. It was mothballed in 1985 and reopened in 1989, a modern distillery by Speyside standards. Its water is the Lochnagar Burn, drawn down from the slopes of Ben Rinnes.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin and a soft coconut under the malt. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. Maturation runs slow and even in the on site dunnage warehouses at Aberlour. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

At 43% it is rich, fruity and deep. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, over a gentle, creamy oak. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is a Speyside single malt of real standing.