Back when Billy Walker had just bought GlenAllachie I was privileged to taste an early concept vatting of the GlenAllachie 12 Years. It was a sample from when this core expression was still a work in progress. It’s now almost 7 years later and the GlenAllachie 12 Years has since evolved into a whole other whisky.
Much more sherry-forward, more oak, and dare I say more flavour? There’s no mention of the cask recipe anywhere, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it mimics that of the GlenAllachie 10 Years Cask Strength. Which means the GlenAllachie 12 Years would have matured (or been finished) in a mixture Pedro Ximènez, Oloroso, red wine and virgin oak casks.
If I have one point of critique about the direction of GlenAllachie, it’s that the cask influence has become pretty major. For example, the GlenAllachie 15 Years is a beast, while the Cask Strength releases have also become more oak-centric with almost every release. Just put the first batch next the latest batch. They’re two hugely different whiskies.
However, Walker is also giving the people what they want. These kinds of profiles have now long been popular with a large contingent of drinkers. Big, bold, brash flavours are often favoured over a certain delicate complexity. And I will say, his whiskies are never boring, which would be a cardinal sin, and there’s always a base level of balance. Especially the latter is a testament to his skill as a blender.
GlenAllachie 12 Years (46%, OB, 2024)
Nose: Massively cask forward. There’s lots of cocoa powder, chocolate truffles and treacle, but also hints of ristretto, figs and dates. Then a slight tartness as well, not unreminiscent of a blackcurrant sour.
Taste: The oak continues to put its stamp on here. Hints of pencil shavings, a pinch of pepper and surely ginger as well. But the coffee makes an encore too, albeit less strong, maybe more of a latte. Slivers of cherries too, but then also jammy dark fruits again, while there’s something slightly herbaceous hovering in the background.
Finish: Medium length. Slightly bitter, somewhat tannic. Then chocolate again.
Sample provided by De Monnik Dranken
