The GlenAllachie 11 Year Grattamacco Finish Review
In-Depth Review
As I continue to taste through my GlenAllachie set of samplers, I have finally reached an expression that moves away from the traditional sherry casks and promises to show a completely different side to Billy Walker’s latest distillery revitalization program. The expression in front of me is part of GlenAllachie’s 2021 limited edition wine finish series – a collection that includes a 13 year Rioja finish, a 12 year Sauternes finish, and an 11 year Grattamacco finish.
Today, I will be trying the Grattamacco finish, a super Tuscan wine from the Bolgheri area of Tuscany. And if you’re like me, you may never had heard of Grattamacco or a “Super Tuscan” wine before. And since I’m no expert in wine, all I can say is that these French oak casks previously held a certified organic deep red wine that was made up of Merlot, Cabernet and Sangiovese.
I don’t have a great track record with wine finished whiskies, as I find that the wine influence can easily overpower the malty backbone found in most whiskies. But the light color of this GlenAllachie gives me reason to hope. And with an ABV of 48% and the use of non-chill filtration, I am keeping an open mind.
Age: 11 Years
ABV: 48%
Cask: American Oak (Ex-Bourbon) then finished in Grattamacco French oak barrels
MSRP: $100
Distillery Name: The GlenAllachie
Review Date: 12/20/21
Color: Rose Gold
Nose: The nose starts off sweet, light, floral, and full of perfume notes. It’s refreshing and reminds me of a chilled rosé wine. The nose opens up beautifully with an elegant and silky quality enhanced by notes of white grapes, raspberries, spun sugar, and tropical fruits. And while it’s light and airy, it never comes across as thin. The wine influence is evident, but never overpowers the light aromatic malt, mixing well to create an incredibly refreshing nose that’s unlike any I’ve experienced. If you’re looking for a stereotypical sherried GlenAllachie, look elsewhere.
Palate: The palate continues the light and refreshing flavors first introduced by the nose, but intensifies them. The first few sips taste like liquified pink Starburst, a burst of lovely fruity and sweet notes that show a deft hand can subdue the typically bold super Tuscan wine. Notes of raspberries and crème, powdered donuts, and champagne gummy bears make this a perfect choice for the sweet tooth in your life. The wood influence feels subdued, with hints of sandalwood the only evidence of the effect the wood had. The mouthfeel is good, but even at 48% ABV, there’s almost no heat whatsoever.
Finish: Short to medium length finish with the sweetness of the palate giving way to hard tart candy notes. On the finish its more Runts than pink Starburst, but a constant level of sweetness runs through the relatively short finish.
Final Thoughts: The GlenAllachie 11 year Grattamacco finish is a delectable whisky; one that effortlessly blends a nuanced wine finish with a well-executed malt. This Grattamacco finish is one of the most fun scotches I’ve had this year, with a fun and refreshing pink Starburst note that runs through from beginning to end. Faults? The finish is a bit underwhelming with its short duration and lack of wood spice but the gorgeous nose and delightfully exotic palate more than make up for it. This is a scotch whisky for those looking for something out of the box. Similar what Barrell Armida does for bourbon, this GlenAllachie Grattamacco finish will challenge you. It’ll push what you think you know about wine finished scotch, and you will either love it or hate it. But I can easily say this is the best wine finished scotch I’ve ever had and I quickly hunted down a full-size bottle to add to the shelf. So if you want to take a risk, try to find one of these in your local liquor store before they all sell out!
Score: 96
