Glenallachie 13 Years Old 1999 (Connoisseurs Choice)

This GlenAllachie was bottled by Gordon and MacPhail, a 13 year old, distilled in 1999, at 43%. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, revived in 2017 by the team of Billy Walker. It runs unusually long fermentations, up to a hundred and sixty hours, for a thick, ester rich and fruity spirit. It was founded in 1967, designed by the architect William Delme Evans, his fourth distillery after Jura and Tullibardine.

It was distilled to a full, generous cut, for the rich, sherried make GlenAllachie is known for. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the full character to the fore. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At an approachable 43% it is soft and fruity. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real richness.