Glenallachie 13 Years Old 2008 Cask #900854 (BB&R)

A 13 year old GlenAllachie from Berry Bros and Rudd, distilled in 2008, from cask 900854, at 60.2%, one of 539 bottles. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. It was founded in 1967, designed by the architect William Delme Evans, his fourth distillery after Jura and Tullibardine. It matures its spirit in sixteen dunnage warehouses on the distillery site at Aberlour.

It was drawn from a thick, full bodied wash, for a thick, ester rich spirit the casks then deepen. 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 bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At its natural 60.2% it is rich and chewy. Date, fig and a warm cinnamon, lifted by a sweet oak. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.