Glenallachie 50th Anniversary Bottling 27 Years Old 1991

This official GlenAllachie, a 27 year old, from 1991, cask 100285, at 55%, 192 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt known for its heavy sherry and wine cask maturation. It was designed almost entirely gravity fed, an efficient plant for its time. It was bought in 2017 by Billy Walker and two partners, fresh from selling BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh. It matures its spirit in sixteen dunnage warehouses on the distillery site at Aberlour.

It was drawn from a thick, full bodied wash, for a full make built to take active wood. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the full character to the fore. In the oxidative, evaporative years the spirit concentrates to dried fruit, dark chocolate and a waxy, resinous depth. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich GlenAllachie make. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At a hearty 55% it carries real weight. Fig, walnut and a bittersweet chocolate, with a warm oak spice. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and chocolate.