Grain

GlenAllachie 12 Year

GlenAllachie 12 Year

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.

Dalmore Port Wood Reserve

Dalmore Port Wood Reserve

Almost all distilleries trade on a sense of history and tradition – for good reason – in association with their craft and their whisky. A smaller selection of brands are lucky enough to have a towering figurehead behind their iconic malts. Dalmore has Master Distiller Richard Paterson, who is a leader in cask curation. Specifically, a long association with sherry bodega and wine industry giant González Byass has resulted in a collection of unique casks to age the distillery’s whisky. Sherry casks are not the only ones in use, however. The Dalmore Port Wood Reserve is one of the few non-age statement offerings in the brand’s principle collection. Dalmore owner Whyte & Mackay also owns the Jura and Fettercairn distilleries, along with other spirit brands.

Tullamore D.E.W. Cider Cask

Tullamore D.E.W. Cider Cask

Tullamore D.E.W. likes the number 3. Triple distilled, triple blended, three ingredients. Making whiskey either by brand or by hand at their own distillery since 1829, when the original distillery opened in Tullamore. The D.E.W. of the brand name is from former distillery manager and owner Daniel E. Williams, who created what would eventually become the brand signature (and caused to have his initial stamped on the barrels, D.E.W.). One of the offerings from their large portfolio is this Tullamore D.E.W. Cider Cask, taking a spirit aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks and finished in bourbon barrels that once held apple cider.