Glenallachie Single Cask 15 Years Old 2005 (Cask 5721)

A 15 year old GlenAllachie, a distillery bottling, from 2005, cask 5721, at 58.3%, 302 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. It was designed almost entirely gravity fed, an efficient plant for its time. Its stills were doubled from two to four within months of opening, the lyne arms angled down for a fuller spirit.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, for a full make built to take active wood. It was fully matured in a Port cask, the wood deep in the rich spirit. At oxidative maturity aldehydes lend a nutty edge while ellagitannins draw a drying, structured grip across the fruit. Maturation runs slow and even in the on site dunnage warehouses at Aberlour. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

Bottled at a cask strength 58.3%, it is deep and concentrated. A rich, sherried sweetness, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.