GlenAllachie

This new release from GlenAllachie sees ten year old single malt re-racked into rare Ruby Port Pipes for a further and final maturation of two years. The secondary maturation adds a distinctive tangy tone of grape must and damson plum, with treacle and ginger coming through as well. The distillery profile of heathery honey is there, lingingering in the background with orange peel oils and warming ginger stem.

Matured for a total of 13 years, this new GlenAllachie spent its final two years developing in casks that previously held Madeira, a sweet wine made from Malvasia grapes. The flavour imparted by this wood brings out the classic distillery profile - waves of vanilla, apricot, peach and heather honey, alongside more tropical fruity tones of pineapple. The sweeter elements are offset with nutty spice, contrasting the lucious mouthfeel with a slowly drying finish.

The GlenAllachie distillery is famous for its finishes, taking mature stocks of whisky and then further aging them for a final period in casks that impart their own unique characteristics. This release sees richly seasoned Pedro Ximenez sherry casks being used to bring out notes of rich sultana, dark chocolate and treacle notes. There is a careful balance to the sweetness, it has woody cinnamon and nutmeg, cut with an orange peel zestyness from the spirit.