Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 48%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Sherry Oloroso, ex-Pedro Ximénez, new
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: The GlenAllachie Distillers Co Limited
Average price: € 1,800.00
Official website: theglenallachie.com
Vote: 89/100
In 2023 was released the most mature bottling in The GlenAllachie’s portfolio, the 30yo, and a year later Billy Walker decided to raise the bar some more, launching a mighty 35yo in September 2024, presented in a very luxurious wooden box. Six casks yielded an unspecified number of bottles: three hogsheads of former PX sherry, a puncheon of former oloroso sherry and three new barrels, all containing distillate from 1989 and unearthed by Walker in the distillery’s warehouses. The element that arouses the greatest curiosity is undoubtedly the contribution of new barrels from such a long ageing process, and I can only thank Fabio Ermoli of Lost Dram Selection and Gabriele Menini of Ferro Beverage (the distillery’s new distributor for Italy) for giving me the opportunity to discover this precious bottling.
Tasting Notes
A very full and intense nose, with all the sherried decadence that the casks could give, accompanied by a spicy blanket of nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper. Sweet liquorice, dried prunes and figs, blackberries, sour cherries and chestnut honey are the first to emerge from the glass, giving an initial connotation of opulent sweetness wrapped in the musty atmospheres of a dunnage, with a hint of damp wood and earthiness. In the second line, citrus drapes of chinotto and blood orange, nuts (macadamia, almonds), muscovado sugar, fondant, a hint of treacle. On the length, a balsamic and fresh part of eucalyptus and flowers (rose and heather) comes through. Rich and vibrant for its age.
Oily on the palate, with an attack of chocolate and coffee that introduces red fruits in various consistencies (fresh, dehydrated and jammy), punctuated by non-invasive spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of clove) and with a consistent presence of citrus fruits, both blood orange and pink grapefruit. On the proscenium appears the supporting cast of nuts and honey, with the balsamic soul growing in thickness until it almost overwhelms the dark part of the distillate. Tannins are almost completely absent, giving lightness and drinkability to the dram.
Not very long finish, in which the balsamic part dominates over the sherried traits of spices, red fruits, honey, cocoa, nuts and citrus.
It’s a pity about an ending that definitely doesn’t live up to the experience, because the elements of interest are all there, as are the depth and richness of the whisky, with a fascinating mutability that seems, however, not to hold up over time. The willingness to experiment and tread different paths even with such significant ageing remains, however, the commendable trait of the distillery.