GlenAllachie 15 Year

For those who claim this rivals GlenDronach or Macallan, I believe you are misrepresenting it. A side-by-side comparison with GlenDronach 15 and Macallan 12 showed this falling short. Is it superior to other GlenAllachie expressions? Yes, undoubtedly, but that's only because other GlenAllachie whiskies are mediocre. I don't share the widespread admiration for this particular distiller; I don't consider him an exceptional blender or distiller. He was fortunate and a savvy businessman who happened upon an incredible inventory at GlenDronach. GlenAllachie doesn't belong in the same category. Sherry is the primary characteristic on both the nose and the palate. It's smoother than other GlenAllachie offerings but lacks complexity, being very straightforward.

Bottled at 46% ABV. Natural color and non chill filtered. Color: Tawny Nose: Chocolate, raisins, orange marmalade, sherry, banana, butterscotch, pear, brown sugar Palate: Sweet, pear, honey, brown sugar, sherry, banana, chocolate Finish: Sharp, sweet, tannins, medium Overall, a truly delightful dram! A sherry-forward experience with abundant rich flavors. A full-bodied, sweet, and intriguing whisky. Certainly among my preferred whiskies with this flavor profile. We visited the distillery this past May and thoroughly enjoyed the tour and tasting.

Nose: Sweet, dark, with a significant sherry influence. Dark cherry, Demerara syrup, syrupy fig, toasted hazelnut, dark chocolate, stewed red/dark fruit. Palate: Beautiful and rich. Heathery floral honey, molasses, spiced caramel apple, sweet syrupy sherry, baking spices. Cocoa powder, a hint of orange peel, and light hazelnut. Plum, fig, vanilla crème brûlée. Deep toasty woodiness. A touch of ginger is present in its flavor, not heat. Finish: Warming spicy oak/Christmas spices with a subtle earthy fruitiness.

Nose: simmered stone fruits, spiced cranberry preserves with a cinnamon kick, a robust and syrupy sherry cask presence, hints of dark cocoa, black cherry, and citrus peel. Palate: full-bodied, profound. Heather nectar, toasted nuts, unsweetened chocolate powder, tangerine zest. A touch of spice from ginger, molasses. Lingering vanilla custard. The dark fruit character is significant. Finish: A subtle sweet, charred wood note

Nose: Coffee shop, fig, lemon, sawdust, dark chocolate, walnut. Palate: Buttery lemon tart, biscuits, berries, luxurious and coats the mouth well. Finish: Medium to long, raspberry maple syrup. My first pub night with friends back from Scotland, and this was part of the tasting. Adding water introduced a floral nose, cedar, and a ripe banana peel palate.

A delicate, sweet scent of caramel and sherry. The palate brings vanilla and oak, with considerable heat stemming from both the barrel and a touch of spice. These elements interact, though the mouthfeel is somewhat lean and the heat intensifies quickly. It's better than average, but the flavors and overall harmony aren't particularly thrilling.