GlenAllachie 9 Year Old Amontillado Sherry Cask Finish - The Wood Collection

Mellow, Sweet Fruity
2024-07-13
In the limited Wood Collection, GlenAllachie showcases the effect that different types of sherry can have on whisky maturation. They transferred their Single Malt, aged for 6.5 years in ex-bourbon casks, into casks previously filled with different sherries: Fino, Amontillado, and Oloroso. After a total maturation period of 9 years, all three variants were bottled at 48%, without coloring or chill filtration. On invitation from Kirsch Import and Billy Walker himself, we had the pleasure of comparing these three bottlings side by side, focusing on how cask management and selection influence the aroma.
GlenAllachie 9 Year Old Amontillado Sherry Cask Finish - The Wood Collection
GlenAllachie 9 Year Old Amontillado Sherry Cask Finish - The Wood Collection
Single Malt Whisky | 9 Year Old | 48,00 % ABV. | 85,71 €/l | GlenAllachie Distillery | produced in Scotland (Speyside) | Whiskybase ID 251100

Smell

On first sniff, the GlenAllachie 9 Year Old reveals an intriguing combination of woody notes and a subtle alcohol presence. The nose is accompanied by a vibrant fruitiness, with lemon zest and honey being the dominant flavours. Nectarines and pecan nuts complete the profile and provide a pleasant sweetness, which is rounded off by slight hints of red grapes and caramel. Nuances of pear and spicy notes are also recognisable, harmoniously interacting with milk chocolate and nutty undertones.

Taste

The flavour of the Amontillado Sherry Cask Finish reveals a powerful fruity explosion. Distinctly spicy notes, particularly of ginger, come to the fore and give the whisky a pleasant warmth. The creamy texture of milk chocolate and the buttery flavours of a butter biscuit round off the Scotch and ensure a good balance between sweetness and spice.

Finish

The finish of this whisky is of medium length. The flavours are well balanced, with very light leather notes adding depth without overloading the overall impression. The fruitiness remains subtle and blends harmoniously into the overall picture.

Thoughts

The GlenAllachie 9 Year Old Amontillado Sherry Cask Finish appears more "mature" compared to younger, crisp and fresh whiskies - in other words, it feels older than 9 years. It presents itself with more body and depth, which makes it an excellent choice for lovers of more complex and mature single malts. However, this additional maturity also gives it a certain "washed-out" character that sets it apart from the fresher representatives of its type.

Rating: 78/100 - Very Good (Marcel: 77 | Sascha: 79)

Value for Money: 3/5 - Acceptable

Product for review provided free of charge by GlenAllachie & Kirsch Import
Preview Image Source: Whiskybase
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