Glenallachie Single Cask 13 Years Old 2009

GlenAllachie from the distillery, a 13 year old, from 2009, cask 3714, at 58.9%, 300 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, the home distillery of master distiller Billy Walker. It runs unusually long fermentations, up to a hundred and sixty hours, for a thick, ester rich and fruity spirit. It was built by Mackinlay McPherson, the firm that supplied whisky to Shackleton's 1907 expedition. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit.

It was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, giving a full bodied Speyside spirit. It was fully matured in a Sauternes cask, the wood deep in the rich spirit. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich GlenAllachie make.

At a natural 58.9% it is full and rich. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with honeyed apricot and a candied citrus from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is GlenAllachie's deep, fruity Speyside style.