Glenallachie 8 Years Old 2008 Cask #901331 (Riegger’s Selection)

An 8 year old GlenAllachie from Riegger's Selection, distilled in 2008, from cask 901331, at 46.4%, one of 97 bottles. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. Its water is the Lochnagar Burn, drawn down from the slopes of Ben Rinnes. It runs unusually long fermentations, up to a hundred and sixty hours, for a thick, ester rich and fruity spirit.

It was distilled to a full, generous cut, for a thick, ester rich spirit the casks then deepen. A Port cask held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin and toasted sugars over the full, fruity spirit. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. Active first fill wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At an approachable 46.4% it is soft and fruity. Fig, walnut and a bittersweet chocolate, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is GlenAllachie's deep, fruity Speyside style.