Glenallachie 20 Years Old 1995 The Distillery Sites Series (Jack Wiebers Whisky World)

Jack Wiebers Whisky World bottled this GlenAllachie, a 20 year old, distilled in 1995, at 49.1%, one of 159 bottles. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, founded in 1967 below Ben Rinnes near Aberlour. It runs unusually long fermentations, up to a hundred and sixty hours, for a thick, ester rich and fruity spirit. Under Walker it turned to single malt, with heavy maturation in sherry and wine casks.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, giving a full bodied Speyside spirit. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin and a soft coconut under the malt. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters and a darker chocolate, fig and date depth. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Maturation runs slow and even in the on site dunnage warehouses at Aberlour. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich GlenAllachie make.

Bottled at a cask strength 49.1%, it is deep and concentrated. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, with a warm oak spice. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.