Glenallachie Single Cask 13 Years Old 2005 (Cask 901037)

A distillery release of GlenAllachie, a 13 year old, from 2005, cask 901037, at 59.8%. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt from the hills above Aberlour, below Ben Rinnes. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit. It matures its spirit in sixteen dunnage warehouses on the distillery site at Aberlour.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. An Oloroso cask held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body.

At a hearty 59.8% it carries real weight. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real richness.