Glenallachie A Sensational Dutch Summer 10 Years Old 2010

A distillery release of GlenAllachie, a 10 year old, from 2010, cask 4636, at 60.9%, 313 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt known for its heavy sherry and wine cask maturation. It was built for the 1960s blend boom, its make long destined for the blender's vat. It was founded in 1967, designed by the architect William Delme Evans, his fourth distillery after Jura and Tullibardine. It was built by Mackinlay McPherson, the firm that supplied whisky to Shackleton's 1907 expedition. It was bought in 2017 by Billy Walker and two partners, fresh from selling BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh.

Drawn from a thick, full bodied wash, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak gentle behind the spirit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. Maturation runs slow and even in the on site dunnage warehouses at Aberlour.

At its natural 60.9% it is rich and chewy. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, lifted by a sweet oak. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is GlenAllachie's deep, fruity Speyside style.