A few years ago, I enthusiastically purchased a Whisky advent calendar – all single casks, each unique. This was my special “welcome to Germany” gift. Slowly but surely over the years, I’ve opened a couple more, typically a pair at a time.
After a bit of a break, it was high time to crack open a few more… this time a pair from Speyside…
- Nose – Waxy, coconut oil, raw banana peels, barley mash, light spice… after some time, a hint of salty toffee
- Palate – Started off with a real spicy chili kick, a bit sweet and sour
- Finish – Bitter with the spice lingering, tapering into sweetness
- Water – Brings out a spicy fruity mix – jackfruit
Not sure what I was expecting, however, the more I sipped, the more I enjoyed it.
Douglas Laing tasting notes:
The nose is sweet and lively with chocolate covered coconut, juicy barley and gentle spice. The palate reveals layer on layer of vanilla alongside creamy toffee and warm sponge cake, and the long finish has a mellow oak quality, with marshmallows and caramelised sugar.
Remarkably, Master of Malt still has it in stock – for a ‘mere’ Eur 220!
GlenAllachie 13 year (25 Oct 2005 / 13 Jun 2019), Cask 901062, 65.1% (Lady of the Glen) 368 bottles
- Nose – Such a bouquet! Fruity, floral, then creamy, nutty, malty, yummy! Reminded me of juicy fruit gum! Then shifted into old over-ripe fruits, mascarpone
- Palate – Resinous, herbal, then chocolaty, nutty, buttery, stewed fruits
- Finish – Long, strong with a bit of nutty bitterness
- Water – Definitely add! Brightens and lightens without losing the spike kick
What a character! There is something also a bit different about this one. I’m not sure if it was the Marsala finish or something else, but it’s tough to pin down… and that’s what makes it fun.
What more do we know? It was matured in a single bourbon hogshead and then finished in Marsala Wine Butt from Sicily.
The folks at Master of Malt had this to say:
- Nose: Floral malt, vanilla biscuits, and milk chocolate Maltesars, with caramelized nuts.
- Palate: Apricot jam on fresh toast with lots of melted butter, vanilla cream, and nougat.
- Finish: Dried fruit, namely more apricot, with toasted walnut and vanilla pod.
Would I agree? Certainly!
Once upon a time, this whisky retailed for Eur 96, however suspect you won’t find it so easily now.
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