Glenallachie 16 Years Old 1996 Cask #5235 + 5244 (Signatory)

This GlenAllachie comes from Signatory Vintage, the Edinburgh house that bottles at Edradour above Pitlochry, a 16 year old, distilled in 1996, from cask 5235 + 5244, at 43%, one of 827 bottles. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, the home distillery of master distiller Billy Walker. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit.

Run slowly off the spirit still, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak lending vanilla and a light honey. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. 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. Maturation runs slow and even in the on site dunnage warehouses at Aberlour.

Reduced to 43%, it is mellow and sweet. A rich, sherried sweetness, with a warm oak spice. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is GlenAllachie's deep, fruity Speyside style.