Glenallachie 5 Years Old 2014 Cask #33 (The Finest Malts)

A 5 year old GlenAllachie from The Finest Malts, distilled in 2014, from cask 33, at 55.1%, one of 78 bottles. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt from the hills above Aberlour, below Ben Rinnes. It was founded in 1967, designed by the architect William Delme Evans, his fourth distillery after Jura and Tullibardine. It was built for the 1960s blend boom, its make long destined for the blender's vat.

The spirit was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a full make built to take active wood. It was matured in an Oloroso cask, the wood working deep into the malt. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and lactones a coconut, the spirit rich, fruity and full. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Maturation runs slow and even in the on site dunnage warehouses at Aberlour.

At 55.1%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A rich, sherried sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and chocolate.