Glenallachie 11 Year Old 2009 Sauternes Barrel (59%, OB, Sauternes Barrel #3278, 299 Bottles, 2020)

• ABV: 59%
• Age: 11 Years Old
• Bottling: OB, Single Cask, Sauternes Barrel #3278, 299 Bottles
• Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
• Cost: £85.95
• Origin: Glenallachie distillery
• Vintage: 2009

What they say

We’re excited to present our third batch of single casks exclusive to the UK, each skilfully demonstrating the unique interaction of the wood, spirit and subsequent flavour extension. The classic sweet wine from Sauternes in the French Bordeaux region, is produced using the noble rot and results in a luscious and delectable wine. These barriques are sourced from a Premier Cru winery and deliver a rich, honeyed sweetness with an explosion of fruit.

Official tasting notes:

COLOUR: Straw Gold.
NOSE: Heather honey, peaches, apricots and notes of ginger.
TASTE: Brimming with heather honey, peaches and apricots, fused with hazelnuts and grapefruit.

What I say

Dram #3 from WOLS 2020 T6 Halloween / Rising From The Dead tasting. Glenallachie was a relatively unknown distillery producing blending stock for Chivas Brothers until releasing a single malt Glenallachie Distillery Edition in 2017 shortly before being sold to Billy Walker & Co. Billy swept through Glenallachie’s warehouse stock and similar to Glendronach and Benriach set about not only generating a whole range of new expressions but also identified numerous maturing single casks of exceptional quality to be released like this one.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: White Burgundy (5/20), large tears and thick legs.
• Nose: Sweet & powerful, slightly burnt or over-caramelised sugars, like seared pineapple, heather honey with a drop of white balsamic vinegar, white peach, apple, pear, ginger, lemongrass, slightly nutty almond and hazelnut.
• Taste: Smooth and spiced on the palate, medium-full bodied, buttery, more white peach and seared pineapple, malty cereals, white wine poached pears, nutmeg and cinnamon spice builds, heather honey with apple compote, lime zest and marzipan.
• Finish: Long, honey on yellow grapefruit, peppermint and cereal malted barley.

Overall

Full of honey and fruit from the Sauternes cask maturation, good malty body present here too which persists through to the finish. Delicious.

Score 86/100

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