Glenallachie Single Cask for Europe – Batch 5 11 Years Old 2011

GlenAllachie from the distillery, an 11 year old, from 2011, cask 7448, at 58.6%, 746 bottles in all. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt from the hills above Aberlour, below Ben Rinnes. Under Walker it turned to single malt, with heavy maturation in sherry and wine casks.

The spirit was drawn from a thick, full bodied wash, for a full make built to take active wood. It was fully matured in a Port 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. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

At its natural 58.6% it is rich and chewy. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a Speyside single malt of real standing.