Glenallachie Single Cask 14 Years Old 2009 (Cask 804302)

A 14 year old GlenAllachie, a distillery bottling, from 2009, cask 804302, at 57.1%, 696 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt known for its heavy sherry and wine cask maturation. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit. It was bought in 2017 by Billy Walker and two partners, fresh from selling BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh. It was built by Mackinlay McPherson, the firm that supplied whisky to Shackleton's 1907 expedition.

Run slowly off the spirit still, for a thick, ester rich spirit the casks then deepen. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez cask, the wood working deep into the malt. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. Maturation runs slow and even in the on site dunnage warehouses at Aberlour.

Bottled at a cask strength 57.1%, it is deep and concentrated. A rich, sherried sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is GlenAllachie's deep, fruity Speyside style.