GlenAllachie unveils 35YO cask strength whisky

The GlenAllachie Distillery in Speyside has released a 35-year-old cask-strength single malt aged in four different cask types, including virgin mizunara.

The release is said to represent the pinnacle of master blender Billy Walker's artistry, shaped by his more than 50 years of expertise in cask selection and blending. Distilled in 1990, the whisky is primarily aged in virgin Japanese mizunara oak. This rare type of oak, sourced from 200-year-old trees, imparts unique flavours of coconut, pineapple, sandalwood, and a subtle fragrance reminiscent of Japanese incense. While mizunara oak is highly regarded, it is also notoriously difficult to work with because of its porosity and tendency to leak. As a result, it is one of the most sought-after and expensive types of oak for ageing whisky. The whisky matured in mizunara oak is married with single malts aged in oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry, as well as virgin American oak. Walker commented on the release: "This 35-year-old embodies everything I have learnt over the last five decades – masterful cask selection and management, patience, and sensory instinct. "By uniting these four extraordinary cask types, particularly the Mizunara, which requires a superlative level of skill to work with, we're extremely proud to have created a whisky that is as complex as it is harmonious. "It is truly a marvel of time and a project that has challenged us in the very best way." The 35-year-old expression presents aromas of mocha, crystallised cinnamon, treacle tart, cocoa, toasted hazelnuts, pineapple, ginger, and heather honey. On the palate, it follows with flavours of cocoa, baking spices, chocolate-covered raisins, coconut, brandied orchard fruits, sandalwood, vanilla, dried red fruits, and honeycomb. The GlenAllachie 1990 35-year-old Cask Strength is bottled at a natural cask strength of 50.2% ABV, non-chill filtered and free from added colouring. The whisky is presented in a Valchromat box, developed in-house by Scottish designer Kayley Barbour and which is housed within a custom wooden case inspired by Kumiko – the traditional Japanese woodworking art of creating intricate patterns without nails. Each side of the box features four unique motifs, representing the four casks used to mature the whisky. The inner box pays tribute to The GlenAllachie's namesake, which means 'valley of the rocks' in Scots Gaelic, by incorporating stone and slate textures that evoke the rugged beauty of the Scottish landscape. The limited release is now available at the distillery and on its website, with a suggested retail price of £1,512.99 (US$2,030). UK consumers can already purchase The GlenAllachie 1990 35-year-old Cask Strength at select retailers, with global availability set to increase in the coming weeks. Last year, The GlenAllachie installed ‘first-of-its-kind’ technology at the distillery to reduce its energy use by more than 50%.