GlenAllachie 18 Year

Nose: Preserved stone-fruit in syrup, caramel fudge, dark chocolate covered sultanas, orange peel, powdered dried ginger, honey. Palate: The arrival is sweet and reminiscent of fruit ‘n nut milk chocolate. Malted milk, mocha coffee, vanilla and orchard fruits appear first in the development followed by citrus, warm spice (mild cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger) and a pleasant oak-wood quality. The texture is creamy rather than oily. Finish: Medium/long. Dark chocolate, black coffee, dark fruits and a dash of orange bitters. The nose is more expansive than the younger core-range Glenallachie whiskies and it conveys an immediate impression of age and depth. There is a similarity to the profile of the 12 but this is more relaxed and dignified while retaining its robust Glenallachie character. The palate is likewise more refined and softer, the bitter and intense qualities of the younger expressions having been tamed. The finish carries on this overall impression of maturity. I had both the 12 and 18 year old Glenallachie whiskies when they were first released, but while the contemporary 12 year old seems much the same as the 2018 expression this recent 18 year old is softer and more assured than the original bottling, and altogether improved. It’s a whisky that repays patience and although it takes a while to wake up in the glass the wait is worth it. I’d recommend just a dash of water and letting it sit for at least 10 minutes. As it says in the official Distiller tasting notes this unfurls further fruity notes, and it also intensifies the sherry cask influence. The third whisky I tasted at the Sydney Whisky Show 2021. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)

Ah man such high hopes for Billy Walker's new endeavors. I've been (with 1 exception) disappointed so far and it's not just been me. We did a blind Glendronch 7 dram tasting and the mystery dram was one of his offerings the 12 year...it came last even after a shockingly bad Glendronach 26 year (which they again served up to me at another tasting but that's another story about the decline of that distillery...). Anyhow maybe he can turn things around as the youngest of his offerings the Cask Strength 10 ys Batch #3 was a great dram, better than Adelph's efforts with this distillery. It's a bit like a star football coach who moves to another team and stuff never fires but you see glimpses of the future...usually you never get to realize the vision as they are out on their ear within a few years. Billy owns the place so he has longer to prove himself and cleanse the crap of the past. Anyhow that's a long winded way of saying don't waste your money with this one. Tired casking, averagely construsted and zero soul, character or identity. I'm not even going to describe it as not worth the effort.

A nice orange sponge cake, Christmas baking spices, caramelized nuts, raisins, chocolate and lemon-peel form a very smooth and intensely deep nose that has a very sherry heavy background. The palate is expectedly sweet but a lot less oily than anticipated. It is spices cooked in maple syrup with strong orange oil and fresh lemon. Then some cold liquid chocolate. The sherry influence dominates here too and also defines the medium long finish. Nice and spicey with a lot of sherry cask influences to explore.

Not sure with this one yet. Still early in the relationship. It’s got a sweet and sour side with a round full middle a snap of spice thrown in and something that lingers. It will be a fun journey. Definitely worth the price for an 18 year. Letting it sit awhile before tasting makes a big difference in the enjoyment of this.

Nose: Toffee with some baking spice and vanilla cookies. Palate: barley maltiness, dried fruits with some citrus rind. Some hints of clove honey. Finish: the honey comes through into the finish with a subtle cocoa and odd hoppiness.

Creamy nose Sherry, spice, dry, mature, woody. 2nd dram—green apple Subdued finish, more and more pleasant as time went on