GlenAllachie Oak Series 10yo Spanish Oak

One of a few distilleries built to produce blending whisky, GlenAllachie (pronounced ‘Glen-al-ACK-ee’) was founded by Mackinlay, McPherson and Co to provide malt whisky for Mackinlay blends. The distillery stands in the heart of Speyside, at the foot of Ben Rinnes and in relatively close proximity to Aberlour. Both whisky distilleries draw their water from springs in the mountains.

Formally owned by Chivas Bothers, GlenAllachie was bought by the independent "GlenAllachie Distillers Company", which is operated by former BenRiach MD Billy Walker. Billy Walker is an industry legend, he has revitalised several mothballed distilleries including BenRiach and GlenDronach.

The GlenAllachie Distillers Co. was lucky enough to inherit a vast amount of aged stocks from the previous owners though Billy Walker has started to put his own stamp on the spirit. Fermentations and capacity have been slowed to produce a more fruity, refined spirit for the future.

GlenAllachie Oak Series 10yo Spanish Oak

Batch 3 of GlenAllachie's Virgin Oak Series, this mahogany malt obtains its spicy, treacly flavours from maturation in hogsheads made of Spanish Oak (Quercus Robur). This particular wood was sourced from the regions of Galicia and Asturias, specifically from the forests of the Cantabrian Mountains, which have a cool, humid climate.

The oak was air dried for around 18 months and then toasted and charred to a medium level, opening up the oak to allow the complex spirit to extract its cask character. The secondary ageing in these virgin casks deepened the mahogany hue of the whisky and created a palate rich with dried fruits, maraschino cherries and hints of stem ginger.

Bottled at 48%, natural colour and non chill filtered.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Lashings of orchard fruits, baking spices and sticky toffee pudding, with notes of brown sugar, glazed cherries and citrus.

Palate: Bursting with chocolate, coffee and heather honey, followed by notes of pepper, ginger and molasses, with banana and sultanas on the finish.

Finish: Waves of coffee and chocolate.