Glenallachie 14 Years Old 2008 Cask #3037639 (Duncan Taylor)

A GlenAllachie of a 14 year old chosen by Duncan Taylor, distilled in 2008, from cask 3037639, at 53.6%, one of 70 bottles. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt known for its heavy sherry and wine cask maturation. It matures its spirit in sixteen dunnage warehouses on the distillery site at Aberlour. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit.

Worked unhurried through the stillhouse, for a full make built to take active wood. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending a creamy vanilla. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich GlenAllachie make. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

Bottled at a cask strength 53.6%, it is deep and concentrated. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, lifted by a sweet oak. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is GlenAllachie's deep, fruity Speyside style.