Glenallachie 15 Years Old 2008 Cask #304339 (Duncan Taylor)

Chosen by Duncan Taylor, the cask house from Huntly in Aberdeenshire, this a 15 year old GlenAllachie, distilled in 2008, from cask 304339, at 55%, one of 97 bottles. GlenAllachie is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, chocolate and spice. It was built for the 1960s blend boom, its make long destined for the blender's vat. It was built by Mackinlay McPherson, the firm that supplied whisky to Shackleton's 1907 expedition. It was bought in 2017 by Billy Walker and two partners, fresh from selling BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, for a full make built to take active wood. An Oloroso cask held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. 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 a hearty 55% it carries real weight. A deep, dark sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is GlenAllachie's deep, fruity Speyside style.