Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region: Speyside
Age: 12 years old
abv: 46%
Until recently, single malt GlenAllachie was a relatively rare sight. Although the distillery has been around since 1968, it was later acquired by Pernod Ricard, who used GlenAllachie as an ingredient for many of their blends. It’s easy to see why: GlenAllachie has plenty of body and flavour, but doesn’t overwhelm the senses, making it an ideal blending component. This left little room for single malt expressions to be bottled, but all of this changed when GlenAllachie was sold into private ownership in 2017. Since then, GlenAllachie has released an impressive range of age-statement whiskies, featuring old expressions using stock right from when the distillery reopened in 1989.
GlenAllachie 12 year old is a marriage of different cask profiles, including Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry, as well as virgin oak casks. The result is a bold, fruity dram that’s got quite a lot going on. Let’s explore!
Colour: Light mahogany (all natural too!)
Nose: Plenty of fragrance, with a rich, sumptuous aroma of dried fruit wafting from the glass. You’d be forgiven if you mistake this GlenAllachie for a Cognac. Sultanas and blackcurrant take a turn toward the sweet side with the arrival of demerara sugar and candied orange peel. Nuttier scents also abound, with pecans and cloves giving way to aged oak. The nose offers a depth that belies this whisky’s age. Those sherry casks have clearly left their mark.
Palate: Medium bodied and a bit sharper than expected. Dark oats and musty oak combine with marmalade and toffee to produce an almost cloying sweetness. Through it all runs a fairly spicy streak, with cinnamon and cloves providing a bit of bite and a pleasant bitterness toward the end.
Finish: Of decent length and warmth, with flavours of barley, white pepper and toasted oak.
Verdict: This GlenAllachie is a solid whisky that’s bound to please. Since the distillery is not so well known, it’s a nice dram to include in a tasting or to bring out when your friends are over. GlenAllachie 12 is still very much an entry-level whisky though, so I’m curious to explore what else the distillery has to offer.
Value for money: 🤩🤩🤩
whiskystories 