The GlenAllachie 12 Year Review
In-Depth Review
Founded in 1967, and based in Aberlour, Scotland, GlenAllachie has had a history of ups and downs. But since its purchase by a group of investors that includ the famous master distiller Billy Walker (of Glendronach, and BenRiach fame), the future of GlenAllachie is decidedly on the up and up. Billy has rekindled enthusiast interest in the brand by relaunching a core range of whiskies that include a 12, 15, 18, 25 year, and an annual 10 year cask strength expression.
Billy has taken his years of experience blending for Hiram Walker, his expertise with cask management at BenRiach, and his love of sherry casks at Glendronach and blended them into the latest incarnation of GlenAllachie. GlenAllachie remains a small distillery that only produces 600,000 liters of alcohol a year. Compared to a behemoth like Cameronbridge which can produce up to 120 million liters of alcohol a year, GlenAllachie’s output is minuscule. But that hasn’t stopped the team from creating some absolutely stunning whiskies that are only now coming to the US.
I recently was given the chance to taste through a few of their core whiskies and speak with Billy himself through the Whiskey Bourbon and Scotch Enthusiasts Facebook group. We start with the 12 year example, the entry level offering from GlenAllachie that is bottled at a wonderful 46% with natural color and non-chill filtration. On specs alone, this should be good, so let’s dive in and find out!
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 46%
Cask: Mixture of casks that include Virgin Oak, PX sherry casks, and oloroso sherry casks
MSRP: $65
Distillery Name: The GlenAllachie
Review Date:
Color: Medium Amber
Nose: The nose starts off big - with a sherry blast of raisins, dried fruit, wood tannins and a touch of mulch. Those earthy notes lay underneath an undeniably sweet nose fed. The nose slowly settles into softer notes of fresh violets, cherrywood, and brown sugar before lulling you into taking that first sip. For those who love sherry bombs, the nose promises a comfortable and inviting whisky.
Palate: Taking a sip, the first thing that you notice is how excellent the mouthfeel of this whisky is. It’s thick, viscous, and envelopes the entire mouth. All of that beautiful sherry influence washes over the tongue, bringing flavors of grape, dark chocolate, baking spices (like clove and cardamon), and toasted Madagascar vanilla. The sweetness is big and reminds me a little bit of chocolate bundt cake drizzled with a ginger, molasses syrup. Notes of crystalized ginger appear on the back palate before moving into the finish.
Finish: Medium length finish with more ginger and clove spice. The finish warms the chest, even at 46%, and provides a nice dry finish that contrasts with a heavily sweetened palate.
Final Thoughts: It’s a very good day when this is the quality of your entry level whisky. Under the stewardship of Billy Walker, GlenAllachie clearly has a hell of a feature in front of it - if this 12 year old expression is anything to go by. The 12 feels well-rounded with excellent mouthfeel, a complex and inviting nose and palate, and truly no major faults beyond perhaps its lack of any interesting twists and turns. While GlenAllachie 12 has moments of big sweetness, it’s nicely balanced by more savory notes on the finish that exemplify the deft hand of a veteran distiller. While I won’t be running out to grab a full bottle of this expression, (I still prefer Glendronach 12), it’s a well-executed dram that can appease both the beginners and even the biggest sherry aficionado alike. I can’t wait to see what another 3 years in the cask does to the 15 year expression!
