Glenallachie Single Cask 11 Years Old 2008 (Cask 3601)

A distillery release of GlenAllachie, an 11 year old, from 2008, cask 3601, at 55.9%, 304 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a rich, sherried Speyside malt from Aberlour, built on full bodied spirit and active casks. It was designed almost entirely gravity fed, an efficient plant for its time.

The spirit was distilled in copper pot stills, for a full make built to take active wood. Maturation came in a Sauternes cask, layered over the full GlenAllachie make. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. Active first fill wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich GlenAllachie make. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body.

At 55.9%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A rich, sherried sweetness, with honeyed apricot and a candied citrus from the cask. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and chocolate.