Review - Glenallachie 10 years old Cask Strength Batch #4

 

This whisky is the latest release of the annual 10 years old Cask Strength bottling from the Speyside distillery of Glenallachie. The previous three batches have gained something of a cult status amongst whisky fans, with the first being released back in 2017. The Glenallachie 10 years old Cask Strength Batch #4 is a combination of ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, plus a small percentage of virgin oak casks. all with a minimum age of 10 years. These have been selected and married together by Billy Walker, the Master Distiller and owner of Glenallachie. Batch #4 is bottled at 56.1% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. 

The Glenallachie distillery is located just outside the town of Aberlour in the Speyside region of Scotland. It was founded by Mackinlay, McPherson & Co. in 1967 and was designed by renowned distillery architect William Delmé-Evans. The current owners are The Glenallachie Distillers Co. who took over from Chivas Brothers in mid-2017. Under their ownership the brand has begun to establish itself as a single malt brand having previously been largely unavailable. Previously, bottlings were rare with most spirit going in to blends such as Ballantine's and Chivas Regal. The annual production capacity is four million litres.

The Glenallachie 10 years old Cask Strength Batch #4 consists of 15,600 bottles and these will be available through selected specialist whisky retailers in selected global markets. A bottle will cost £59/ $79 US.

Our tasting notes

The colour is deep amber and the nose is rich and packed with heavy aromas. First out of the glass is caramel and dark chocolate followed by black treacle, waxy honeycomb and muscovado sugar. Then come further aromas of dark chocolate, cocoa powder and a hint of espresso coffee. Underneath is a pinch of baking spice and a suggestion of candied orange peel. 

On the palate this whisky has a viscous, thick and velvety feel. Heavy initial notes of caramel, malted cereals and dark chocolate kick things off in an impressive way. It takes some time for any other notes to come through and develop out of this, but they slowly begin to emerge - think of raisins, manuka honey and muscovado sugar especially, plus drops of orange oil or essence. Everything marries together well and is accentuated by evolving warm baking spices - imagine cinnamon, all-spice and five spice plus hints of clove, white pepper and liquorice root. Further late savoury notes come through in the form of old leather, dusty wooden floors, beeswax furniture polish and cigar wrapper leaf.

The finish is long and punchy. The rich, heavy notes from the expressive ex-sherry casks and the high ABV drive this on. As these begin to fade, especially the sweet and fruity characteristics, then it is the robust malt and warming spices that take over. 

What's the verdict?

This latest addition to Glenallachie's 10 years old Cask Strength series will only add to the cult status of the bottling in our view. People seem to like whiskies that hit the extremes of flavour, be it super peaty/smoky or heavily sherried, and Batch #4 certainly falls in to the second category. It is a big, bold and rich whisky that coats the taste buds and assaults the senses. What is the distillery character of Glenallachie? No idea from this, but it is a highly enjoyable single malt none the less.