Glenallachie Wine Series – Cuvée Cask Finish 10 Years Old 2012

GlenAllachie from the distillery, a 10 year old, from 2012, at 48%. This is part of the Wine Series. GlenAllachie is a Speyside single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. It was founded in 1967, designed by the architect William Delme Evans, his fourth distillery after Jura and Tullibardine. It was bought in 2017 by Billy Walker and two partners, fresh from selling BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for the rich, sherried make GlenAllachie is known for. It was matured in ex-Bourbon oak and finished in a Red Wine cask, a layer of Red Wine over the bourbon vanilla. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

Bottled at a cask strength 48%, it is deep and concentrated. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with red berry and a dry spice from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.