Glenallachie 30 Years Old 1992 Cask #DL 16979 (XOP)

This GlenAllachie was bottled by Douglas Laing, a 30 year old, distilled in 1992, from cask DL 16979, at 47.3%, one of 190 bottles. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, founded in 1967 below Ben Rinnes near Aberlour. It matures its spirit in sixteen dunnage warehouses on the distillery site at Aberlour. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit.

Distilled in copper pot stills, for the rich, sherried make GlenAllachie is known for. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a soft honey over the fruit. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending maple and dried fig as beeswax and old leather linger. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body. 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.

At its natural 47.3% it is rich and chewy. A rich, sherried sweetness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.