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

Rich, Dried Fruits
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 Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish - The Wood Collection
GlenAllachie 9 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish - The Wood Collection
9 Year Old | 48,00 % ABV. | 85,71 €/l | GlenAllachie Distillery | produced in Scotland (Speyside) | Whiskybase ID 251099

Smell

Even in the Oloroso maturation, the typical GlenAllachie character shines through: heather honey, vanilla, and an impressive malty sweetness. On top of that, there are intense, rich, and quite typical sherry aromas. We detect plums, overripe cherries, and candied oranges. Additionally, there is a pleasant spiciness of cinnamon, nutmeg, perhaps a hint of cloves, and a certain herbaceousness. The finish then becomes slightly peppery, with a touch of bitterness and a hint of leather.

Taste

On the palate, the malt delivers what the nose promises. Full-bodied, oily, and voluminous, this whisky fills the mouth. The sweetness is complex, comprising malt, red fruits like cherries, and a hint of strawberries. After a short while, the spicy notes become more pronounced. Coffee grounds, dark chocolate, and again the light aroma of old leather are accompanied by the taste of black pepper. There is also a pronounced oak presence, which, however, does not carry the initially suspected bitterness.

Finish

The finish is very long and warming. Intense oak is accompanied by the lingering flavor of dark chocolate. The spiciness recedes somewhat, giving way to the aroma of dried plums.

Thoughts

With the Oloroso, the journey through GlenAllachie's Wood Collection is completed - and in a fitting conclusion. Here we find a prototype of what most connoisseurs likely love about a classic sherry maturation: the wonderful balance of deep red fruits, the sweetness of malt and chocolate, and the spiciness of European oak. Compared to Fino and Amontillado, we get a heavier, slightly dusty, and intense malt. The freshness of the ex-bourbon casks recedes further into the background and is overlaid by "aged" aromas. Objectively very well done and of high quality - whether it is better than the other two finishes is for each to decide for themselves.

Rating: 81/100 - Excellent (Marcel: 82 | Sascha: 79)

Value for Money: 3/5 - Acceptable

Product for review provided free of charge by GlenAllachie & Kirsch Import
Preview Image Source: Whiskybase
DE | EN
About us
How we evaluate