GlenAllachie releases single casks in UK
Speyside distillery GlenAllachie has rolled out a batch of six single malts on a limited basis to UK specialist retailers.
Scotch whisky GlenAllachie has released six expressions in the UK, each drawn from a single cask hand selected by master distiller Billy Walker. Walker recently produced the third batch of whiskies for the GlenAllachie Wood Finish range. He said: “We’ve curated these special single casks exclusively for our valued UK retail partners and consumers. "Exploring the unique interaction between the GlenAllachie spirit and different types of oak cask, each expression has its own incredibly unique DNA." The cask strength whiskies include the 32-year-old Pedro Ximénez puncheon (cask #6495), which contains notes of dark chocolate tart, ripe figs, treacle and eucalyptus, and was bottled at 55.8% ABV. It will be available to buy for RRP £625 (US$853). Also included is the 15-year-old Rioja barrique (cask #4465), which sits at 60.5% ABV. The whisky is described as ‘brimming’ with raspberry coulis, sugared almonds and nutmeg, and can be bought for RRP £115 (US$157). Meanwhile, the 15-year-old tawny Port pipe (cask #868) clocks in at 60.7% ABV. The full-bodied, fruity whisky can now be purchased from UK specialist retailers for RRP £115, too. Presenting an indulgent mocha depth, alongside hints of sweet cinnamon and subtle ginger, the 14-year-old Pedro Ximénez hogshead (cask #6611) rests at 60.3% ABV, and is also included in the batch of six. It retails for RRP £110 (US$150). The 13-year-old chinquapin virgin oak barrel (cask #6896) is bottled at 58.3% ABV, and the cask used for maturation was sourced from Missouri and air-dried for nearly four years. Available for RRP £105 (US$143), the expression boasts flavours of orchard fruits, stem ginger and lemon meringue pie. Finally, the 12-year-old Marsala barrel (cask #5856) has an ABV of 58%, and includes notes of tropical fruits and salted caramel. It costs RRP £99 (US$135). All bottles are hand-numbered and non-chill filtered. Walker added: “The journey from the depth and refinement of the vintage 1989 Pedro Ximénez puncheon, with its glazed fig and mocha elegance, to the rare 2009 Marsala barrel, which reveals ripe mango, demerara sugar and grapefruit peel is incredibly powerful. The wonder of wood never ceases to fascinate.” The brand has also produced a new single cask bottling for the Spirit of Speyside festival, which runs from 3-8 November this year. The 15-year-old single malt whisky was initially matured in a fresh ex-Bourbon cask, before being re-racked into a first-fill Sherry hogshead. It was then filled into an American oak cask, which previously held peated whisky distilled at The GlenAllachie. The GlenAllachie 2006 (Cask #806906) Peated Bourbon Barrel is limited to 233 bottles, and exclusively available to buy from the distillery’s online shop.
