Glenallachie 38 Years Old 1973 Moody Lions (The Whisky Agency)

A GlenAllachie of a 38 year old chosen by the Whisky Agency, distilled in 1973, at 50.4%, one of 218 bottles. GlenAllachie is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, chocolate and spice. 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. It was founded in 1967, designed by the architect William Delme Evans, his fourth distillery after Jura and Tullibardine.

The spirit was run slowly off the spirit still, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak lending vanilla and a light honey. In its ethereal years the malt turns waxy and oxidative, faded esters and a whisper of sotolon over dark fruit. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

At its natural 50.4% it is rich and chewy. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is GlenAllachie's deep, fruity Speyside style.