The GlenAllachie 10 Year Cask Strength Batch 5 Shelf Review

Shelf Review
Designed to give you all the quick hit information you need when you’re standing in front of your local liquor store’s whisky shelf.

I have finally reached the end of my GlenAllachie tasting set, with the journey culminating in this award winning 10 year Cask Strength expression. This particular version of the 10 year is Batch 5 (there are now 6 out in the wild), and rings in at a healthy cask strength proof and like all GlenAllachie expressions remains non-chill filtered. And with an MSRP similar to that of the 15 year version I’vealready reviewed, I will attempt to determine which one I would be happier dropping a $100 on.

Age: 10 Years

ABV: 55.9%

Cask: PX, Oloroso, Virgin Oak, and Rioja cask

MSRP: $100

Distillery Name: The GlenAllachie

Review Date: 12/24/21

Nose: A subtler nose than I expected for a cask strength sherried whisky. Notes of sulfur, candied fruits, with a bready malty quality mixed with a wave of ethanol. After it settles in the glass, more baked bread, dark chocolate, and a hint of rose water.

Palate: The palate isn’t as big and bold as I’d hoped. But notes of orange chocolate, coffee grounds, ginger chews, cocoa nibs, and a waxy malt quality come to the surface. It’s not a sherry bomb, but does have a nice sweetness and a good mouthfeel for such a young whisky.

Finish: Short to medium finish. Wood tannins, fudge cake, and baking spices.  

Score: 86

Would I buy again? The relatively low score here is a bit of a shock. I came in expecting a big, brash, cask strength, sherried, bruiser of a whisky only to find it more subtle and nuanced than I had hoped. That’s not to say that this is in ANY way a bad whisky. It’s just I would rather purchase the 15 year expression or another bottle of that fabulous Grattamacco finish limited release than this Batch 5 of the 10 year. I may be in a minority here, but I feel like the higher proof didn’t add much here – instead covering up some of the complex flavors that can be found in the 15 year GlenAllachie.