Glenallachie 13 Years Old A Dream of Scotland (Brühler Whiskyhaus)

This GlenAllachie was bottled by Brühler Whiskyhaus, a 13 year old, distilled in 2012, at 55.9%, one of the festival bottlings. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, the home distillery of master distiller Billy Walker. It runs unusually long fermentations, up to a hundred and sixty hours, for a thick, ester rich and fruity spirit. It was mothballed in 1985 and reopened in 1989, a modern distillery by Speyside standards.

The spirit was drawn from a thick, full bodied wash, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. A Port 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. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body.

At 55.9%, undiluted, it is dark and full. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is GlenAllachie's deep, fruity Speyside style.