Glenallachie 7 Years Old 2013 Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited (Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers)

A 7 year old GlenAllachie from Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, distilled in 2013, at 62.6%, a festival cask. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, founded in 1967 below Ben Rinnes near Aberlour. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit. It runs unusually long fermentations, up to a hundred and sixty hours, for a thick, ester rich and fruity spirit.

The spirit was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. Maturation came in a Sauternes cask, layered over the full GlenAllachie make. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and lactones a coconut, the spirit rich, fruity and full. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich GlenAllachie make.

At a natural 62.6% it is full and rich. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, with honeyed apricot and a candied citrus from the cask. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is the sherry led malt of Aberlour.