Located in the heart of Speyside, a few thousand feet from the River Spey at the foot of Ben Rinnes, GlenAllachie was founded in 1967 by Mackinlay McPherson. It has changed ownership several times but is now independently owned and managed, one of the last remaining distilleries in Scotland to be so. While having much greater capacity, the current output of the distillery is around 500,000 liters of alcohol per year. They have 16 warehouses on site holding some 50,000 barrels. Despite this history, they have rebranded and are only relatively new on American shelves. Unlike many distilleries today, their line is dominated by a great number of age statement offerings across a few named ranges. The GlenAllachie 12 Year is the keystone of their core range and is a pure introduction, offering no cask finishes or proof hikes.
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region: Speyside
Age: 12 years
Strength: 46%
Price: $59.99
Maturation: Ex-bourbon casks
Location: Aberlour
Nose: Mineral, grain, honey, coriander, marzipan, milk chocolate, oak, floral (water), black pepper (water)
Palate: Sour cherry, honey, raisins, chocolate, nut
Finish: Spice, oak, mocha (water)
Comments: Recommended to add water, as it lowers the mineral and brings out the fruit, as well as let sit for a few minutes. Could be fun in cocktails.
Adam – Despite the fact that we’ve tried some old and varies whiskies over the years, I always enjoy returning to a distillery’s entry point expression. The GlenAllachie 12 speaks well to its place, evoking some of the light sweetness and grains often found in Speysides. It is a sharp scotch in places, or lean, filling my palate and mind with crisp winds and rocky riversides. It is hard to ignore the black pepper running throughout but letting the glass sit and aerate a little can calm that down. Interestingly enough, I find myself enjoying it more in colder weather than the summer climes I’d first tried it in. Pushing past the pepper, I’m interested in the light fruit and sweetness that play second fiddle on the palate. Adding some water definitely brings out more of the sweetness. I will probably not get another bottle, but I still feels this is a good example of the lighter, more mineral aspects of Speyside.
Ben – It feels like black pepper is king here. It rules the experience from nose to palate to finish. I don’t mind it to explore but my tongue would grow weary of it over an entire evening with the GlenAllachie 12.
Black pepper is king here.
Kate – No thank you.
Henry – Very light honey and mineral on the nose, with a hint – just a hint – of fruit. Unwatered, black pepper and a touch of heat comes through. On the palate, tannins and minerality predominate, with a hot finish. Water calms things down. Minerality verging on chalkiness.
