Glenallachie 9 Years Old (Douro Finish)

GlenAllachie from the distillery, a 9 year old, at 48%, 12000 bottles in all. It is one of GlenAllachie's Wine Series bottlings. GlenAllachie is a rich, sherried Speyside malt from Aberlour, built on full bodied spirit and active casks. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit. It was founded in 1967, designed by the architect William Delme Evans, his fourth distillery after Jura and Tullibardine.

It was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, giving a full bodied Speyside spirit. After ex-Bourbon maturation it was finished in a Douro cask, the wine working into the spirit. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and lactones as coconut over orchard fruit and a dark sugar. Maturation runs slow and even in the on site dunnage warehouses at Aberlour. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At 48%, undiluted, it is dark and full. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, with a red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real richness.