Glenallachie Single Cask 12 Years Old 2008 (Cask 515)

This official GlenAllachie, a 12 year old, from 2008, cask 515, at 55.9%, 565 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, chocolate and spice. It was mothballed in 1985 and reopened in 1989, a modern distillery by Speyside standards. It runs unusually long fermentations, up to a hundred and sixty hours, for a thick, ester rich and fruity spirit.

The spirit was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, giving a full bodied Speyside spirit. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez cask, the wood working deep into the malt. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the orchard notes deepening to sultana, date and chocolate. Maturation runs slow and even in the on site dunnage warehouses at Aberlour. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich GlenAllachie make. Active first fill wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At 55.9%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is a Speyside single malt of real standing.