Glenallachie 7 Years Old 2008 Cask #3010446 (Duncan Taylor)

Chosen by Duncan Taylor, the cask house from Huntly in Aberdeenshire, this a 7 year old GlenAllachie, distilled in 2008, from cask 3010446, at 52.5%, one of 107 bottles. GlenAllachie is a rich, sherried Speyside malt from Aberlour, built on full bodied spirit and active casks. It was mothballed in 1985 and reopened in 1989, a modern distillery by Speyside standards. It was built for the 1960s blend boom, its make long destined for the blender's vat. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit.

It was drawn from a thick, full bodied wash, for a full make built to take active wood. Maturation came in an Oloroso cask, layered over the full GlenAllachie make. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and lactones as coconut over orchard fruit and a dark sugar. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At a natural 52.5% it is full and rich. A rich, sherried sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and chocolate.