GlenAllachie 18 Year

Aroma: Preserved stone fruit in syrup, caramel fudge, dark chocolate-covered raisins, orange peel, powdered dried ginger, honey. Palate: The initial taste is sweet and evokes fruit 'n nut milk chocolate. Malted milk, mocha coffee, vanilla, and orchard fruits appear first as it develops, followed by citrus, warm spices (mild cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger), and a pleasing oak wood characteristic. The texture is creamy rather than oily. Finish: Medium to long. Dark chocolate, black coffee, dark fruits, and a hint of orange bitters. The nose is more pronounced than the younger, core-range Glenallachie spirits, immediately conveying a sense of age and depth. It shares similarities with the 12-year-old's profile but is more composed and distinguished while maintaining its robust Glenallachie essence. The palate is similarly more refined and smoother, with the bitter and intense qualities of the younger expressions having been moderated. The finish continues this overall impression of maturity. I sampled both the 12 and 18-year-old Glenallachie spirits upon their initial release. While the current 12-year-old appears much the same as the 2018 version, this recent 18-year-old is smoother and more confident than the original bottling, and considerably improved. It's a spirit that rewards patience, and although it takes time to open up in the glass, the wait is worthwhile. I suggest adding just a splash of water and allowing it to rest for at least 10 minutes. As indicated in the official distiller tasting notes, this process further reveals fruity notes and enhances the sherry cask influence. The third spirit I tried at the Sydney Whisky Show 2021. “Good”: 84/100 (3.75 stars)

Ah man, such high expectations for Billy Walker's new ventures. I've been disappointed so far (with one exception), and it hasn't just been my experience. We conducted a blind tasting of 7 Glendronach drams, and the mystery sample was one of his creations, the 12-year-old... it finished last, even behind a surprisingly poor Glendronach 26-year-old (which they served again at another tasting, but that's a separate issue concerning that distillery's decline...). Anyway, perhaps he can improve things, as the youngest of his offerings, the Cask Strength 10 Year Old Batch #3, was an excellent dram, superior to Adelph's efforts with this distillery. It's comparable to a star football coach who moves to a new team and things don't quite click, although you see flashes of potential. You usually don't see the vision realized as they're let go within a few years. Billy owns the place, so he has more time to prove himself and move past past mistakes. In any case, that's a lengthy preamble to say don't spend your money on this one. Tired cask influence, average construction, and a complete lack of soul, character, or identity. I won't even bother describing it further, as it's not worth the effort.

A pleasant orange sponge cake, festive baking spices, candied nuts, dried grapes, chocolate, and lemon zest create a remarkably smooth and deeply rich aroma with a pronounced sherry presence. The taste is predictably sweet, yet far less viscous than I thought it would be. It presents as spices stewed in maple syrup with prominent orange oil and bright lemon. Following this is some chilled liquid chocolate. The sherry character is still the main feature, also shaping the moderately lengthy conclusion. A delightful and spicy spirit with significant sherry cask impacts to discover.

Uncertain about this one just yet. Still in the early stages of getting acquainted. It possesses a sweet and tart profile with a full, rounded mid-palate, a burst of spice, and a lingering element. It promises to be an interesting journey. Certainly justifies the cost for an 18-year-old. Allowing it to rest for a while before tasting significantly enhances the experience.

Aroma: Toffee with hints of baking spice and vanilla cookies. Palate: Malty flavor, dried fruits with some citrus zest. Subtle notes of clove honey. Finish: The honey carries into the finish, accompanied by a faint cocoa and unusual hop character.

Nose is creamy. Sherry, cinnamon, and a dry, aged wood character. A second taste reveals green apple. The understated finish grew more and more pleasing over time.