Glenallachie Single Cask 13 Years Old 2008 (Cask 665)

A distillery release of GlenAllachie, a 13 year old, from 2008, cask 665, at 57.1%, 687 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt known for its heavy sherry and wine cask maturation. It was designed almost entirely gravity fed, an efficient plant for its time. It was bought in 2017 by Billy Walker and two partners, fresh from selling BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh. It runs unusually long fermentations, up to a hundred and sixty hours, for a thick, ester rich and fruity spirit.

The spirit was drawn from a thick, full bodied wash, for a thick, ester rich spirit the casks then deepen. It was fully matured in a Pedro Ximenez cask, the wood deep in the rich spirit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At its natural 57.1% it is rich and chewy. Date, fig and a warm cinnamon, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and chocolate.