Glenallachie 24 Years Old 1992 Cask #HL 12308 (Edition Spirits)

A GlenAllachie of a 24 year old chosen by Edition Spirits, distilled in 1992, from cask HL 12308, at 50%, one of 125 bottles. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, revived in 2017 by the team of Billy Walker. It was mothballed in 1985 and reopened in 1989, a modern distillery by Speyside standards. It was built by Mackinlay McPherson, the firm that supplied whisky to Shackleton's 1907 expedition. Under Walker it turned to single malt, with heavy maturation in sherry and wine casks.

The spirit was run slowly off the spirit still, for a thick, ester rich spirit the casks then deepen. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak gentle behind the spirit. In the oxidative, evaporative years the spirit concentrates to dried fruit, dark chocolate and a waxy, resinous depth. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At its natural 50% it is rich and chewy. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with a warm oak spice. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a Speyside single malt of real standing.