Glenallachie 9 Years Old 2014 Cask #9900201 (Murray McDavid)

Murray McDavid bottled this GlenAllachie, a 9 year old, distilled in 2014, from cask 9900201, at 57.6%, one of 338 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. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. A Barolo cask held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and lactones a coconut, the spirit rich, fruity and full. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At a hearty 57.6% it carries real weight. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with a dry red berry, rose and a tannic grip from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.