Review | Glen Grant The Glasshouse Collection

The Speyside distillery of Glen Grant has revealed a new set of whiskies named The Glasshouse Collection. The trio represent the oldest permanent expressions to be released by the distillery. They also represent the final bottlings created by legendar…



The Speyside distillery of Glen Grant has revealed a new set of whiskies named The Glasshouse Collection. The trio represent the oldest permanent expressions to be released by the distillery. They also represent the final bottlings created by legendary Dennis Malcolm OBE, the legendary Master Distiller who is due to retire shortly after over 60 years at Glen Grant. 

The collection is inspired by James 'The Major' Grant - a key figure in Glen Grant's history. He was an avid plant collector and travelled the world during the Victorian era, bringing specimens back to Scotland to grow in a huge greenhouse that he built on the distillery grounds. The different names refer to how the light changes during the day in the glasshouse. 

Glen Grant is located in the small town of Rothes in the centre of the Speyside region of Scotland. The distillery was founded by James and John Grant in 1840, and the brothers decided to use their surname for the distillery name. Glen Grant remained in their direct ownership until 1872 when James died (John had died in 1864). The distillery was then inherited by James’ son, James Grant Jnr.

Glen Grant remained under the family ownership until Grant Jnr’s grandson, Major Douglas Mackessack, sold it to the Canadian group Seagrams in 1972. Following numerous subsequent takeovers, the Italian drinks company Gruppo Campari took control in 2006. They purchased the distillery and brand due to its popularity in the Italian market and re-launched the single malt range in 2007. The current production capacity of six million litres per year, making it one of the larger distilleries in Speyside.

The Glasshouse Collection consists of three whiskies and celebrates the enhanced ageing properties of Glen Grant. The Glen Grant 21 years old: First Light is bottled at 46% ABV as is the Glen Grant 25 years old: Golden Hour. The Glen Grant 30 years old: Twilight is bottled at 48% ABV. All are non-chill filtered and of natural colour, and have been matured in a combination of American oak ex-bourbon barrels and ex-Oloroso sherry casks, with the sherry cask influence increasing with age. This is 20%, 40% and 60% respectively.

The Glen Grant 21 years old and 25 years old are available in UK retailers now. They will £250 and £735 respectively. The Glen Grant 30 years old will appear later in 2024 with the retail price to be confirmed. The rumour is that it will be around £1,200. A wider world release for the collection is also expected at some point.

 

Our Tasting Notes

Glen Grant 21 years old: First Light


The nose is sweet and fruity with a distinct floral twist. Elegant aromas of stewed apple and caramelised peach are joined by vanilla, baking spices and milk chocolate. Further aromas of crème brûlée, raisin and hazelnut add to the depth. 

On the palate this whisky is soft, creamy and gentle. Notes of baked apple, vanilla custard and muscovado sugar kick things off and are followed by hints of ripe tropical fruits (think of pineapple and mango especially), plump sultana and juicy raisin. The crème brûlée from the nose is also evident and is joined by caramel, plus warming spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. Later spices evolve and are reminiscent of white pepper and clove. Hints of cocoa powder and milk chocolate round everything off nicely. 

 

Glen Grant 25 years old: Golden Hour


The nose exhibits a lovely mix of sweet and spicy aromas – milk chocolate with raisin and sultana mingles with cinnamon, clove and ginger. There is a suggestion of bitter orange oils and fairground toffee apple that evolves to become more reminiscent of baked apple with butterscotch sauce. 

On the palate this whisky feels silky, velvety and luxurious. Baked apple and fresh honeycomb notes lead the way (the honey is like heather honey with a hint of manuka) and are quickly joined by sugary sultana and raisin. The baked apple note from the nose is prominent and is complimented by a delicious combination of mocha, praline and bitter orange oil. Later, some drying tannins and oaky spice develop – this gives a complex warmth and peppery quality with a hint of old cigar box and antique furniture shop. 

 

Glen Grant 30 years old: Twilight 


The nose is bold and decadent. Aromas of grilled peach, apricot jam and syrup sponge pudding are joined by baked apple and hints of treacle tart and Christmas cake. There are plenty of savoury aromas also – think of sandalwood, cigar tobacco and chamoix leather. 

On the palate this whisky is superbly velvety and opulent. Notes of bitter chocolate and espresso coffee are joined by a selection of stone fruit – imagine nectarine, peach and apricot. Demerara sugar, toffee and caramel are all evident as well as raisin, sultana and candied orange. A warmth develops with time, and this brings a selection of notes from the spice rack – think of allspice, mace, cinnamon bark, clove and nutmeg. These dusty spices are complimented by some drying oak and a hint of mint and menthol right at the end. 


Review | The Singleton Gardens of Abundance Collection

The Singleton Scotch whisky single malt brand has a new core range that will be exclusive to the travel retail market – The Singleton Gardens of Abundance Collection. The new series features four expressions, each featuring a different cask make-up. T…



The Singleton Scotch whisky single malt brand has a new core range that will be exclusive to the travel retail market - The Singleton Gardens of Abundance Collection. The new series features four expressions, each featuring a different cask make-up. These are named Radiant Spring Garden, Golden Autumn Orchard, Exotic Spice Grove, and Deep Forest Riches. 

All have been distilled at the Glendullan distillery in Speyside and are released with no age stated. The whiskies have been created by Dr. Craig Wilson, the Master Blender for The Singleton. Radiant Spring Garden (40% ABV) has been solely matured in American white oak barrels and will cost £55. Golden Autumn Orchard (41.8% ABV) is double matured in ex-bourbon and American white oak casks and will cost £80. 

Exotic Spice Grove (42.8% ABV) is triple matured and features in ex-red wine and rejuvenated casks before being married in reserve oak casks - this will cost £150. Deep Forest Riches (44.8% ABV and pictured, above) boasts a four-cask maturation with initial maturation in European oak before finishing in ex-Marsala wine, and ex-Palo Cortado and ex-Pedro Ximenex sherry casks. It will cost £220. 

The Singleton as we know it today was launched by Diageo in 2006. Three distilleries come under the umbrella brand - Dufftown, Glendullan and Glen Ord - and it sells over eight million bottles per year. As mentioned, The Singleton Gardens of Abundance Collection is taken from Glendullan. The distillery was founded in 1896 by William Williams & Sons, a blending company. For much of its life Glendullan has continued to supply malt for blending, especially to Diageo's array of brands. It is located in Dufftown in Speyside and has an annual production capacity of five million litres.

The prices for each bottling in The Singleton Gardens of Abundance Collection will vary slightly in different markets. The whiskies are available now in selected world airports including Delhi, Dubai, London Heathrow and Singapore.

 

Our Tasting Notes 

The Singleton Radiant Spring Garden
American white oak barrels/ 40% ABV/ £55
 

The colour is pale gold and the nose is sweet and fruity. Aromas of heather honey, green apple and apricot jam lead the way with some white chocolate and lemon zest underneath. On the palate this whisky is very soft and gentle. It has a creamy mouth feel and it leads with some delicious notes of crisp green apple and vanilla custard. Then comes further notes of white chocolate with a pinch of cocoa powder and heather honey. The brightness continues with hints of ripe apricot, lemon zest and citrus blossom. Some late warming spice adds to the depth - think of cinnamon, powdered ginger and a hint of clove.
 
The Singleton Golden Autumn Orchard
American white oak & ex-bourbon casks/ 41.8% ABV/ £80
 

The colour is deep gold and the nose has a lovely, bright set of aromas - honeycomb, golden syrup and toffee lead the way with red apple, crisp green pear and vanilla coming through well. On the palate this whisky has an immediate elegance and softness to it. Crumbly brown sugar notes mingle with those of fairground toffee apple and honeycomb straight from the hive. Poached pear in butterscotch sauce and hints of milk chocolate, cinnamon bark and nutmeg come through nicely to give a sumptuous mouthfeel with plenty of depth. Late notes of white pepper, clove and fresh peach also evolve - this gives a pleasant heat.
 
The Singleton Exotic Spice Grove
Ex-red wine, rejuvenated oak and reserve oak casks/ 42.8% ABV/ £150 
 

The colour is coppery gold and the nose is laced with baked fruit and spices - imagine baked figs and apple topped with powdered cinnamon, good cocoa and a scratch of nutmeg. There are also aromas of vanilla sugar and hedgerow berries. On the palate this whisky is soft, rich and expressive. The baked apple and fig come to the fore again - think of the apples covered in butterscotch sauce and the figs drizzled with honey. Also poached pears in red wine. Then come the dusty spices and they dominate late on. Some are woody (toasted oak and cinnamon bark especially) and others earthy (ginger and a hint of liquorice root).

The Singleton Deep Forest Riches
European oak, ex-Marsala wine, ex-Palo Cortado & ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks/ 44.8% ABV/ £220


The colour is russet, almost amber, and the nose is dark, rich and fruity. Aromas of dried fruit (especially raisin, date and fig), dark chocolate and toasted nuts leap from the glass. There are also hints of black treacle, golden syrup and savoury wood spices. On the palate this whisky feels luscious and classy. Spiced baked apple notes mingle with the dark dried fruits and chocolate from the nose. There are also notes of vanilla sponge cake, toffee and golden syrup. The savoury characteristics begin to evolve and build, and this takes the whisky in a different direction and adds a further layer of complexity. Dusty baking spice and fresh oak give a lovely dryness.

Review | The Glenallachie 35 years old

The Speyside distillery of Glenallachie has announced the launch of its oldest single malt whisky to date – The Glenallachie 35 years old. The whisky has been released to represent the distillery’s unwavering commitment to cask craftsmanship and small…



The Speyside distillery of Glenallachie has announced the launch of its oldest single malt whisky to date - The Glenallachie 35 years old. The whisky has been released to represent the distillery’s unwavering commitment to cask craftsmanship and small-batch whiskies, and has been crafted by Billy Walker, the owner and Master Distiller at Glenallachie.  

For this landmark bottling, Walker selected six ex-bourbon barrels that were distilled and filled in the summer of 1989. This was shortly after he had taken over the distillery and he quickly identified the potential of these six casks. They were transferred to four ex-sherry casks (three ex-Pedro Ximenez and one ex-Oloroso) and two virgin American oak casks in 2017 for a seven year secondary maturation.

 

"Unifying the six spectacular casks has created the perfect equilibrium between the sweet influence of Pedro Ximénez, the nutty contribution of Oloroso, and the spiciness of the virgin oak. It is a whisky to be treasured."
Billy Walker.
 
The Glenallachie distillery is located close to the town of Aberlour in the Speyside whisky region in Scotland. It was founded by Mackinlay, McPherson & Co. in 1967 and was designed by renowned distillery architect William Delmé-Evans. Glenallachie translates as 'valley of the rocks' from Gaelic. The current owners are The Glenallachie Distillers Co. who took over in mid-2017. They have switched focus from the previous owners Pernod Ricard, who used it to supply malt for several blends. The annual capacity is four million litres, although it is currently operating at a quarter of that.

The Glenallachie 35 years old is presented in a wide-shouldered decanter and oak casket that features hand carving and brass detailing. This also features a booklet filled with Walker's handwritten tasting notes and the story of each cask. The limited edition whisky is bottled at 48% ABV and is available from specialist and luxury retailers worldwide. A bottle will cost £1,475.

Our Tasting Notes

The colour is a deep coppery amber and the nose is rich with a mix of sweet and savoury aromas. It kicks off being very nutty (think of walnut and hazelnut especially) and chocolate-like. Then comes some dried fruits in the form of raisin, sultana and candied orange with a hint of date. Underneath are further aromas of cocoa powder, old cigar box and sandalwood.

On the palate this whisky feels silky, rich and viscous. Again the lead characteristics are chocolate, nuts and dried fruit - the combination is reminiscent of a fruit and nut milk chocolate bar. Toasted hazelnut, walnut and brazils marry with raisin, sultana and dates to great effect. Then comes dominant notes of caramel and vanilla toffee with a hint of dark treacle. There are also hints of mocha, baked apple and gingerbread that evolve. 

The whisky becomes more savoury with time. There is a distinct leathery and earthy note that develops, plus some dusty baking spices - imagine cinnamon, ginger and clove here. Later notes of cocoa powder and bitter orange oil also come through, along with that old cigar box vibe from the nose.

The finish is long and decadent. It seems to go on forever. The chocolate and dried fruit notes are the first to fade, but it is a slow process. Then the nutty characterisitics. This leaves the savoury and dusty spice notes to take hold and pull the finish out even more. A woody dryness develops to give a lovely finale.

What's The Verdict?

This is a stunning whisky and one that shows the sympathetic cask management needed for maturing spirit to this sort of age. The depth of character and the complexity is fabulous - there are so many layers and the balance between the sweet and savoury characteristics is spot on. 

We were delighted to have been invited to the launch event in London and Billy hinted that they have even older stock that came as part of the distillery purchase in 2017. Only time will tell what they choose to do with that but if any is as good as this whisky, then they will have done well.


Tamdhu Unveils Forty Three And Dedicated Collection

Speyside distillery Tamdhu has released Forty Three – a 43-year-old single malt whisky matured in Oloroso sherry casks – as the start of their Dedicated Collection, which showcases the distillery’s ‘oldest, rarest and most limited’ whiskies, all of which were exclusively matured in Oloroso sherry casks. Tamdhu Forty Three originated from water from a natural […]

The post Tamdhu Unveils Forty Three And Dedicated Collection first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Speyside distillery Tamdhu has released Forty Three – a 43-year-old single malt whisky matured in Oloroso sherry casks – as the start of their Dedicated Collection, which showcases the distillery’s ‘oldest, rarest and most limited’ whiskies, all of which were exclusively matured in Oloroso sherry casks.

Tamdhu Forty Three originated from water from a natural spring near the distillery, then was matured in three Oloroso sherry-seasoned oak casks, bottled at 50.8% alcohol by volume [101.6 proof] and is said to contain notes of blackcurrant, coffee and orange.

Only 100 bottles of Tamdhu Forty Three are being made available for $17,735 per bottle – but purchasers of the whisky will also get a personal invite for an exclusive stay at the closed-to-public Tamdhu distillery.

The post Tamdhu Unveils Forty Three And Dedicated Collection first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Tomatin Brings Out The Antiquary

Highland distillery Tomatin has released a trio of blended Scotch whiskies under their Antiquary label, which was purchased by Tomatin in 1996. The whiskies consist of The Antiquary 15 Year Old, The Antiquary 21 Year Old and The Antiquary 30 Year Old – all made using a blend of Highland and Speyside malts with Lowland […]

The post Tomatin Brings Out The Antiquary first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Highland distillery Tomatin has released a trio of blended Scotch whiskies under their Antiquary label, which was purchased by Tomatin in 1996.

The whiskies consist of The Antiquary 15 Year Old, The Antiquary 21 Year Old and The Antiquary 30 Year Old – all made using a blend of Highland and Speyside malts with Lowland grains – the 15-year-old finished in Bordeaux red wine claret casks [with notes said to resemble ‘rhubarb, tamarind, raspberry and vanilla’], the 21-year-old finished in tawny Port casks sourced from Portugal [with notes said to suggest ‘spiced plum, wild strawberries, dark chocolate and orange’] and the 30-year-old was matured for more than three years in sherry casks sourced from Jerez in Spain with notes offered as ‘tropical fruits, smoked bacon and heather honey’. All three blended whiskies were bottled at 40% alcohol by volume [80 proof].

The Tomatin Antiquary range is being made available, per bottle, for $55 [15-year-old], $125 [21-year-old] and $350 for the 30-year-old.

The post Tomatin Brings Out The Antiquary first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

A Whiskey Love Story

Uncle Nearest Whiskey founder Fawn Weaver spent eight years researching and writing “Love & Whiskey,” the story of Nearest Green and Jack Daniel. During that… Read More

Uncle Nearest Whiskey founder Fawn Weaver spent eight years researching and writing “Love & Whiskey,” the story of Nearest Green and Jack Daniel. During that time, she also launched the Uncle Nearest brand, one of the fastest-growing whiskey brands on the market, and the book also tells that story as well. We’ll talk with Fawn Weaver on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth, and share tasting notes for the Uncle Nearest Rye whiskey in the What I’m Tasting This Week Department. In the news, there’s a deal in place to revive the historic Dallas Dhu Distillery in Speyside, and the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2024. 

Episode 1064: July 7, 2024

Links: “Love & Whiskey Book Tour” | Uncle Nearest | Aceo Limited | Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame | Scotch Whisky Association | Whiskey House Distillery | The Balvenie | Laphroaig | Ardbeg | The GlenAllachie | Douglas Laing & Co. | Coachbuilt Whisky | Loch Lomond | Rosebank | Aberfeldy | Lagg Distillery | Lost Lantern Whiskey

Review | Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection Vat 01

The Perpetual Collection is a series of whiskies created by the famous Speyside distillery of Glenfiddich. The series is exclusive to the travel retail market and are therefore only available in selected airports worldwide. The final whiskies are take…



The Perpetual Collection is a series of whiskies created by the famous Speyside distillery of Glenfiddich. The series is exclusive to the travel retail market and are therefore only available in selected airports worldwide. The final whiskies are taken from huge marrying solera vats at the distillery. These have never been emptied, hence the 'perpetual' tag, and are said to contain some very old whisky. 

The Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection Vat 01 is the entry point into the range and has seen maturation predominantly in American oak, both virgin oak and ex-bourbon barrels. There is also a small percentage of European oak and ex-red wine casks also. Vat 02 is matured entirely in European oak ex-sherry casks, while Vat 03 carries a 15 years old age statement and has been matured in a combination of American virgin oak, ex-bourbon and European oak ex-sherry casks. Vat 04 is 18 years old and has seen maturation in ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry barrels.

Glenfiddich is located in the Speyside town of Dufftown - this is the unofficial capital of the region and boasts six distilleries. It was constructed by William Grant and his children in 1886 and 1887. Glenfiddich remains owned by William Grant & Sons today, making it one of the last family owned distilleries in Scotland. The first spirit famously flowed off the still on Christmas Day 1887. 

The name is taken from the Fiddich glen, the valley through which the River Fiddich flows and in which the distillery lies. This translates as 'valley of the deer' from Gaelic. The distillery is massive, especially since a large recent expansion was completed, and now has a capacity of 21 million litres per year. This makes Glenfiddich one of the largest single malt distilleries in Scotland.

The Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection has been created by Brian Kinsman, the Master Blender for Glenfiddich. Vat 01 is bottled at 40% ABV and is available in selected airports around the world. We purchased ours at London Heathrow and paid £52 for the one litre bottle.

Our Tasting Notes

The colour is vibrant gold and the nose light, bright and uplifting. Fresh aromas of green pear and orange blossom kick things off and are quickly joined by vanilla, cocoa and toffee apple. Hints of ripe tropical fruit and white chocolate sit underneath and add depth. A further hint of woody spice, like cinnamon, sits in the background.

On the palate this whisky is fresh and vibrant. Luscious fruity notes lead the way - think of crisp green pear, guava, pineapple and a hint of white peach. Sweeter notes then evolve to join. These are reminiscent of butterscotch, white chocolate and icing sugar, with a hint of marshmallow also. There is also a hint of that fairground toffee apple note from the nose. Some more savoury notes sit underneath - imagine cinnamon and bitter cocoa powder, plus some freshly sawn oak. Hints of bitter orange zest and oat cookies are also evident. 

The finish is of decent length with the fruity and sweet characteristics holding together well. These slowly fade to reveal more of the spicy and woody elements, especially the drying oak and a pleasant peppery warmth. A hint of ground ginger appears right at the very end.

What's The Verdict?

We have always been fans of Glenfiddich but have not revisited it for a while. This bottling was delicious and we cannot wait to sample the others in the series now. Vat 01 is light, sweet and refreshing. Perfect neat or over ice. We also tried it with soda water as a highball type drink and it worked well too. The Perpetual Collection seems to be well and truly re-establishing Glenfiddich in the travel retail sector, which has taken time to recover after the Covid pandemic.

We had a specific criteria in mind when looking in the travel retail store at Heathrow - we needed a light whisky for a hot climate, predominantly ex-bourbon cask and something that would hold our interest for the entirity of our trip and be versatile. Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection Vat 01 fitted each one and was the perfect choice, despite what the salesman tried to tell us.

Review | Glenallachie 15 years old

The 15 years old forms part of the compact core single malt range from the Speyside distillery of Glenallachie. It sits alongside expressions released at 12- and 18-years of age, plus the 10 years old Cask Strength. The Glenallachie 15 years old sees i…


The 15 years old forms part of the compact core single malt range from the Speyside distillery of Glenallachie. It sits alongside expressions released at 12- and 18-years of age, plus the 10 years old Cask Strength. The Glenallachie 15 years old sees initial maturation in ex-bourbon, before a lengthy finishing period in ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheons and butts. The core range has been created by Billy Walker - the co-owner and Master Blender of Glenallachie. The Glenallachie 15 years old is bottled at 46% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It is available from specialist retailers worldwide. A bottle should cost around £65.

The Glenallachie distillery is located close to the town of Aberlour in the Speyside region of Scotland. It was founded by Mackinlay, McPherson & Co. in 1967 and was designed by renowned distillery architect William Delmé-Evans. Glenallachie translates as 'valley of the rocks' from Gaelic. The current owners are The Glenallachie Distillers Co. who took over in mid-2017. 

Under their ownership, and the vision of Master Distiller Billy Walker in particular, the brand has quickly established itself as a single malt brand and has a cult following. Previously, bottlings were rare with most spirit going into popular blends such as Ballantine's and Chivas Regal. The annual production capacity is four million litres, although Walker has reduced this to around 750,000 litres per year.

Our Tasting Notes

The colour is deep amber and the nose is rich, bold and with a delicious fruity sweetness. Aromas of dark dried fruits (think of raisins, currants and dates especially) rise from the glass and are quickly joined by caramel, manuka honey and treacle sponge pudding. Underneath sit further aromas of candied orange, dark chocolate and cedarwood.

On the palate this whisky is rich, luscious and velvety. Notes of dark caramel and sweet hazelnut praline come through immediately and are soon joined by the dark dried fruits from the nose - imagine brandy-soaked raisins, juicy currants and figs. Add in some sticky date pudding and treacle tart for extra depth and complexity. Underneath sit hints of dark chocolate, cocoa powder and mocha.

With time, more savoury characteristics begin to evolve. The cedarwood from the nose is first to appear, along with something resembling antique furniture and old cigar box. Woody baking spices, such as cinnamon and cassia build up slowly, and are joined by hints of orange oil and espresso coffee. The combination with the sweeter and fruitier elements is exquisite.

The finish is long and rich. The sweetness lingers well and slowly fades, as does the dried fruitiness. This brings the savoury woody and spicy characteristics to the fore and these drag out the finish superbly. The whisky becomes pleasantly dry and warming, and begs for another sip.

What's The Verdict?

This is a beautiful whisky from Glenallachie and exactly how a good ex-sherry cask Scotch single malt should be. It is rich and luxurious in feel, and balances the sweet and fruity notes superbly with the darker and more savoury ones. Definitely one to search out, especially of you are a fan of ex-sherry cask influenced whiskies. It also comes in at a decent price for a 15 year old these days and gives good value for it.


A Long-Term Commitment to Longmorn

Chivas Brothers recently introduced two new Longmorn single malts. The 18 and 22-year-old malts represent a long-term commitment to the brand, with all future Longmorns… Read More

Chivas Brothers recently introduced two new Longmorn single malts. The 18 and 22-year-old malts represent a long-term commitment to the brand, with all future Longmorns to be at least 18 years old. Chivas Brothers blending manager Kevin Balmforth was instrumental in creating both whiskies, and he’ll join us to discuss them and his day-to-day life in the blending lab on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. 

In the news, MGP is suing over two rickhouse projects that have been blocked by local officials in Kentucky, while a new website has been set up to help investors protect themselves from fraudulent cask investment schemes.  

Episode 1047: March 10, 2024

Links: Longmorn | MGP | ProtectYourCask.com | Brown-Forman | Ardbeg | Cardhu | Mortlach | The Lakes Distillery | OurWhisky Foundation | Whisky Auctioneer | The Glenturret | Woodford Reserve | New Riff Distilling | Lost Lantern Whiskey | The Perfect Fifth | Compass Box | Rabbit Hole | Devil’s Cask

Review | Glenallachie 12 years old

The 12 years old forms the cornerstone of the core single malt range from the Speyside distillery of Glenallachie. It sits alongside expressions released at 15- and 18-years of age, plus the 10 years old Cask Strength which is released in batches. The …


The 12 years old forms the cornerstone of the core single malt range from the Speyside distillery of Glenallachie. It sits alongside expressions released at 15- and 18-years of age, plus the 10 years old Cask Strength which is released in batches. The Glenallachie 12 years old features a combination of three cask types - first-fill ex-bourbon, first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry and virgin American oak. This whisky, and the rest of the core range, have been created by Billy Walker - the co-owner and Master Blender of Glenallachie.The Glenallachie 12 years old is bottled at 46% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It is available from specialist retailers worldwide. A bottle should cost around £45.

The Glenallachie distillery is located just outside the town of Aberlour in the Speyside region of Scotland. It was founded by Mackinlay, McPherson & Co. in 1967 and was designed by renowned distillery architect William Delmé-Evans. Glenallachie translates as 'valley of the rocks' from Gaelic. The current owners are The Glenallachie Distillers Co. who took over in mid-2017. 

Under their ownership, and the vision of Master Distiller Billy Walker in particular, the brand has quickly established itself as a single malt brand and has a cult following. Previously, bottlings were rare with most spirit going into popular blends such as Ballantine's and Chivas Regal. The annual production capacity is four million litres, although Walker has reduced this to around 750,000 litres per year.

Our Tasting Notes

The colour is coppery gold and the nose is fruity, floral and rich. Aromas of raisin, prune and caramel mingle with hard toffee, milk chocolate and toasted hazelnut to begin. Further depth is added as aromas of orange oil, cinnamon bark and mocha evolve. Hints of sultana, vanilla pod and dusty wood shavings sit in the background.

On the palate this whisky is rich, sweet and velvety. Luscious and luxurious dried fruits lead the way - think of raisin, sultana, Cognac-soaked prune and candied orange peel. These are joined by hints of juicy peach and apricot, plus some butterscotch sauce and runny honey. These initial characteristics are underpinned by a distinct malty quality and some green apple, which evolves nicely.

Underneath are further notes of milk chocolate and hazelnut praline with a hint of toasted almond. A pinch of cocoa powder and some mocha add depth and complexity. All the time, a distinct warming spiciness is building - think of cinnamon, all-spice and nutmeg with suggestions of clove and liquorice root. The caramel from the nose returns right at the end.

The finish is long and rich. It becomes increasingly dry, woody and spicy. This is especially true once the sweet caramel and honey-like notes, plus the dried fruit characteristics start to fade. This leaves drying wood tannins and a distinct nuttiness to the fore, which is accentuated by warm baking spices.

What's The Verdict?

The Glenallachie 12 years old is a delicious whisky and one that perfectly demonstrates how good ex-sherry cask Speyside single malts can be. It is a perfect example of the style. The richness and sweetness leads the way but there is so much depth and complexity that each sip is different. This is also still selling for a decent price in a world where whisky prices, especially those with sherry cask maturation, are ever increasing. Definitely worth buying for your whisky shelf.