Glenallachie 14 Years Old (Discovery)

Gordon and MacPhail bottled this GlenAllachie, a 14 year old, at 43%. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt known for its heavy sherry and wine cask maturation. It was mothballed in 1985 and reopened in 1989, a modern distillery by Speyside standards. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit. It runs unusually long fermentations, up to a hundred and sixty hours, for a thick, ester rich and fruity spirit.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, for a thick, ester rich spirit the casks then deepen. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin and a soft coconut under the malt. 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. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

Bottled at 43%, it is rounded and full. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, over a gentle, creamy oak. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a Speyside single malt of real standing.