Glenallachie 13 Years Old 2007 Cask #4052 (Whisky.de)

A GlenAllachie of a 13 year old chosen by Whisky.de, distilled in 2007, from cask 4052, at 59.6%, one of 670 bottles. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. It was bought in 2017 by Billy Walker and two partners, fresh from selling BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a thick, ester rich spirit the casks then deepen. Maturation came in a Port cask, layered over the full GlenAllachie make. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

At a natural 59.6% it is full and rich. A deep, dark sweetness, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real richness.