GlenAllachie creates Cuvée cask whisky
The GlenAllachie Distillery has introduced its 2012 Vintage Cuvée Wine Cask Finish, a combination of Scotch whiskies aged in casks sourced from four European fine wineries.
'Cuvée' is a term used in the wine sector to describe a blend that typically comprises more than one variety of grape. The nine-year-old whisky sees a marriage of single malt finished in casks that previously held four varieties of premium European ex-red wines (Languedoc, Recioto Della Valpolicella and two undisclosed premier cru classés). Master blender Billy Walker said: “As an impassioned wine enthusiast, devising a Cuvée has been nothing short of a dream project. I’m fortunate to have longstanding relationships with premium wine producers across Europe which has opened doors for us to create a whisky with intricate charm. “As a blender at heart, identifying wine styles that would sit well together and capture distinctive qualities presented an enjoyable challenge. They say, ‘never mix grape and grain’, but I say this marriage is a match made in heaven.” After its initial maturation in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels, the liquid underwent 20 months of ageing in the various wine barriques in the distillery’s on-site warehouses. The casks were obtained by Walker from four fine wineries in France and Italy, followed by its blending to form the Cuvée Wine Cask Finish. While the Languedoc casks imparted notes of red fruits, sweet spices and garden herbs, the Recioto Della Valpolicella, from Verona, Italy, delivered flavours of ripe cherries, coconut shavings, liquorice, and raspberry coulis. In addition, the premier cru classé wood presents blackcurrant, espresso coffee and wild truffle notes. Bottled at 48% ABV, the 2012 Vintage retails for RRP £53.99 (US$65.54) and can be purchased from global specialist retailers. Last year, Walker concluded GlenAllachie’s The Past, The Present & Future Series with a four-year-old peated single malt.
