Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 50%ABV
Ageing casks: New and ex-Sherry
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: The GlenAllachie Distillers Co. Limited
Average price: € 80.00
Official website: meikletoir.com
In addition to the three basic bottlings, The GlenAllachie produces an annual release, The Turbo, whose distillate is cut to include the most phenolic part, thus emphasising the already high peatiness at source.
If in 2023 they started with 71ppm of malt matured in three new casks and five ex-Oloroso sherry casks, in 2024 they start with 70ppm and spend the canonical five years in five new casks and four Hoghshead ex-Oloroso sherry casks, for a total of 2,200 bottles produced.
Tasting Notes
The nose is meaty, with massive amounts of bacon, jerky meat and barbecue sauce flooding the nostrils on first approach, followed by citrus (blood orange, chinotto, bergamot), sweet liquorice, carob, sour cherries, baked apple, chestnut honey. Cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of black pepper. The aromas are intense and almost chewy, with a light menthol and balsamic note. The length is reminiscent of Pocket Coffee. Strong.
On the palate, it confirms an oily, crisp body thanks to the spices (with the addition of ginger and cardamom), finding the citrus part always very bright with a compote of blackberries and black cherries. The smoke becomes more acrid, dirty, almost medicinal at times, with the carnivorous aspect fading into the background in favour of a slightly rough sweetness, with a hint of a Barbour jacket. In the background, cocoa, liquorice, Catalan cream and again the balsamic thread with a salty vein.
Quite a long finish with citrus, spice, burnt wood, salted chocolate, sour cherries.
So much complexity and richness in just five years, with a masterly balance between peat and cask. Not having tasted the 2023 version, I cannot make any comparisons, but I would say that the increase in the number of new casks has given it that balsamic thread that balances the flavours. And the salty note, a staple of this line, is always a pleasure.
Vote: 87/100