Glenallachie Single Cask 12 Years Old 2010 (Cask 2781)

This official GlenAllachie, a 12 year old, from 2010, cask 2781, at 57.7%, 695 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt from the hills above Aberlour, below Ben Rinnes. It was built by Mackinlay McPherson, the firm that supplied whisky to Shackleton's 1907 expedition. It matures its spirit in sixteen dunnage warehouses on the distillery site at Aberlour. It was founded in 1967, designed by the architect William Delme Evans, his fourth distillery after Jura and Tullibardine.

Run slowly off the spirit still, giving a full bodied Speyside spirit. Maturation came in a Pedro Ximenez cask, layered over the full GlenAllachie make. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the orchard notes deepening to sultana, date and chocolate. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body.

At a hearty 57.7% it carries real weight. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.