GlenAllachie 10 Years CS Batch 8 2022
Billy Walker, the master of cask management, has once again demonstrated why his GlenAllachie bottlings are so highly regarded in the industry. With an impressive 57.2 per cent alcohol content and maturation in PX and Oloroso puncheons as well as Rioja and virgin oak casks, this Speysider is ready to show us what a real sherry bomb can be.
Tasting Notes
Nose
When the first aromas rise from the glass, it's like wandering through a sun-drenched fig garden in Andalusia while someone next door taps Pedro Ximénez sherry from old solera casks. The nose of this GlenAllachie is a declaration of love for the sweet, dark character of PX casks. The sherry dominates the scene with an intensity that leaves no questions unanswered. It is pure, concentrated and wonderfully blunt. Plump, juicy raisins push their way to the fore, accompanied by dried figs that tell their sweet story like black pearls. Brown sugar caramelises in the imagination, while a subtle leather note announces itself in the background, lending the whole something earthy, almost library-like. A hint of liquorice creeps in discreetly, not intrusive, but like a quiet counterpoint to the opulent sweetness. Oak makes its presence felt with dignity, while vanilla adds gentle, creamy accents. This nose is not a timid whisper, but a confident statement: sherry reigns supreme here, and royally so.
Palate
This whisky is oily and powerful on the tongue, as if it wants to claim every corner of the palate. But despite its 57.2 per cent alcohol content, it is never aggressive or burning. Instead, a fruity symphony unfolds, underpinned by a slightly earthy note. The fig, already present on the nose, runs like a thread through the entire taste experience and gives the whisky a remarkable coherence. Vanilla and caramel dance together, while hazelnut adds a nutty depth that harmonises perfectly with the sweetness. Dark chocolate, not too bitter but velvety and full-bodied, rounds off the flavour palette and provides the complexity that distinguishes a good whisky from a great one. The fruit is strong, the spice balanced. This GlenAllachie makes no secret of what it is: a voluminous, sherry-heavy delight that is aware of its strengths.
Finish
The finish of this whisky is everything you would hope for from a cask strength single malt: long, dry and full of character. The oak now takes the lead, bringing with it a woody, mature note accompanied by a good dose of molasses. This syrupy sweetness, dark and intense, combines with red fruit notes that seem like a final salute from the sherry casks. Tobacco joins in, not smoky, but aromatic and spicy, like well-aged pipe tobacco. The finish lingers, refusing to fade quickly, leaving a warm, dry impression that invites you to take another sip. It is this persistence, this refusal to simply evaporate, that distinguishes a good whisky. The GlenAllachie 10 Years CS Batch 8 bids farewell with dignity and the quiet promise that there is more to discover.
Thoughts
Marcel 88/100
If you’re a fan of intense sherry bombs, this delivers a genuine taste experience, thrilling with its sweet fig fruitiness and full-bodied character. Despite its power, the GlenAllachie 10 Year CS Batch 8 doesn’t hold back – it hits the glass running and is simply fun to drink. A whisky that clearly makes you want another dram, even if it’s not the gentle teddy bear type for everyone.
Sascha 86/100
The GlenAllachie 10 Year Cask Strength Batch 8 demonstrates an impressive balance between robust fruit and structured oak, with the high alcohol strength well integrated. The complexity from PX and Oloroso cask notes combined with subtle spice creates a multi-layered profile that remains clearly focused. Overall, a technically accomplished Speysider that convinces with precise cask maturation and a lasting finish, though it occasionally feels a bit sharp.
Value for Money: Good
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83/100Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the maturation of the GlenAllachie 10 Year CS Batch 8 2022 special?
The whisky matured in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso puncheons as well as Rioja and virgin oak casks. These diverse sherry and wine barrels impart an intense fruitiness and complexity, characterized especially by sweet and spicy notes.
How does the high alcohol content of 57.2% influence the taste and drinking experience?
Despite the strong 57.2% ABV, the GlenAllachie 10 Year CS Batch 8 never feels aggressive or burning. The whisky lays oily on the tongue and unfolds a powerful yet balanced fruit symphony with sweet, nutty, and spicy aromas that are perceived particularly intensely due to the high concentration.
Which flavor notes dominate the GlenAllachie 10 Year CS Batch 8 2022 and how does the finish develop?
Dominant are sweet sherry aromas like raisins, dried figs, and caramel, complemented by vanilla, hazelnut, and dark chocolate. The finish is long-lasting, dry, and marked by woody notes, molasses, red fruits, and an aromatic tobacco tone that gives the whisky a spicy conclusion.