Of all the GlenAllachie I’ve reviewed since the distillery was bought by Billy Walker, the GlenAllachie 15 Years has eluded my grasp. Until now. I managed to get my hand on a generous sample. For your benefit, of course, and certainly not to satisfy my curiosity. (I’m kidding, but I hope that was clear.)
Billy Walker and the this 15-year-old age statement have a rich, esteemed history. One of the big successes of his tenure at GlenDronach, which was a huge success in general, was the 15-year-old Revival. I still fondly remember the first bottle I bought, my delight in tasting it, and the shockwaves when it was discontinued.
Over the years, the GlenAllachie 15 Years has become a similar sherry-forward single malt. Earlier batches maybe weren’t as richly sherried as most current batches are. But now, almost five years after it was first introduced, it can certainly compete with comparable single malts – such as the Tamdhu 15 Years, or the aforementioned GlenDronach.
The recipe for the GlenAllachie 15 Years has changed slightly over the years. It’s no longer finished in just Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso puncheons and hogsheads, but in a combination of sherry (PX and Oloroso), red wine and virgin oak casks. That’s similar to the GlenAllachie 10 Years Cask Strength.
Also, I imagine the length of the finish has changed. When it was originally launched in 2019, it couldn’t have been that long. After all, GlenAllachie had only been acquired two years earlier.
GlenAllachie 15 Years (46%, OB, 2024)
Nose: Big, dusty sherry notes initially. Plenty of oak and lots of raisins, plums, figs and blackcurrants. Just a sliver of cough syrup too, followed by a hazelnut puree, burlap and maple syrup. Rather delicious, I’d say.
Taste: Syrupy and plenty of dark, intense red fruits. Much like the nose, really. But oak spices are slightly more present. There’s pepper, cinnamon and cloves, as well as touches of mocha, some ristretto and bung cloth.
Finish: Medium to long. Dark chocolate, a hint of eucalyptus and syrupy berries.
