Glenallachie 21 Years Old Cask #Batch 1

This official GlenAllachie, a 21 year old, cask Batch 1, at 51.4%, 1600 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. It matures its spirit in sixteen dunnage warehouses on the distillery site at Aberlour. It was built for the 1960s blend boom, its make long destined for the blender's vat.

The spirit was run slowly off the spirit still, for a full make built to take active wood. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez cask, the wood working deep into the malt. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

At a hearty 51.4% it carries real weight. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and chocolate.