Glenallachie 21 Years Old 1996 Cask #5251 (Signatory)

Signatory Vintage, the Edinburgh house that bottles at Edradour above Pitlochry, bottled this GlenAllachie, distilled in 1996, from cask 5251, at 52.9%, one of the festival bottlings. GlenAllachie is a rich, sherried Speyside malt from Aberlour, built on full bodied spirit and active casks. It was bought in 2017 by Billy Walker and two partners, fresh from selling BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh. It was built for the 1960s blend boom, its make long destined for the blender's vat.

The spirit was drawn from a thick, full bodied wash, for a thick, ester rich spirit the casks then deepen. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak gentle behind the spirit. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. 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.

At a hearty 52.9% it carries real weight. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, with a warm oak spice. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a Speyside single malt of real standing.