Glenallachie Batch 1 28 Years Old 1989

GlenAllachie from the distillery, a 28 year old, from 1989, cask 101217, at 45.8%, 194 bottles in all. 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 was built for the 1960s blend boom, its make long destined for the blender's vat. It was bought in 2017 by Billy Walker and two partners, fresh from selling BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for the rich, sherried make GlenAllachie is known for. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the fruit. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

At a natural 45.8% it is full and rich. Fig, walnut and a bittersweet chocolate, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.