The GlenAllachie Distillery – Wine Cask Series
Back in July we sampled The GlenAllachie distillery wine cask expressions. We’re always keen to sample different cask finishes; it is interesting to see how the flavour of whisky can change! There is also something special about the way that whisky reacts to wine-casks, so we were particularly excited for this selection.
11 y/o Granttamacco wine cask finish, 48% ABV
Nose: plum jam, fudge, fresh red berries, fruit compote, candied buts, rich and jammy, raw cake batter
Palate: brown sugar, hazelnuts, plums, cinnamon, toffee
Finish: very dry fruit cake, sweetness gives way to cinnamon spice
A brilliant orangey-red colour, this smelt like a late evening treat – very decadent! With a long finish that continues to develop as you chew your mouth. Lots of brown sugar and toffee notes. A brilliant dram to kick off the evening with.
12 y/o Sauternes cask finish, 48% ABV
Nose: fresh spring water, floral notes, honey, lemon, creamy malt, tropical fruit, fresh air – like spring in a glass!
Palate: orchard fruits, creme brûlée, grilled pineapple, caramelised sugar, honey, lemon, elderflower
Finish: light and soft, floral, sweet finish
We were particularly excited to try this dram, as we LOVE the Kilchoman Sauternes maturation, and the Arran Sauternes finish. This expression feels perfect for a spring/summer afternoon in light sunshine.
13 y/o Rioja cask finish, 48% ABV
Nose: lots of red fruit, red grape, red currant jam, brown sugar tart – fresh strawberries and raspberries
Palate: creamy porridge with honey and fruit jam, sprinkle of cinnamon, orange oil, peppery-spice, light floral elements
Finish: sweetness, and lots of fresh fruit
Absolutely beautiful pinky-orange colour, that looks so inviting. This feels like a nicely refined dram – it benefited from airing out in the glass.
MacNair’s Lum Reek, 46% ABV
Nose: smokey BBQ, coastal salty elements, sweet sticky ribs, sticky toffee pudding, caramel
Palate: sweet sticky BBQ peat, cinder-toffee, caramlised pineapple, red fruits
Finish: dry finish, plenty of toffee, caramel, poached pear, thickly buttered toast
So this dram is a bit of me! Absolutely gorgeous balance of peat and sweetness. We love it when you can taste fruits amongst the smoke.
A wonderful little tasting box, that we would highly recommend to anyone if they can still get their hands on one. Across all the different expressions it was clear just how much cask-influence there is on whisky. From the colour, all the way through to the taste. Let us know in the comments if you have any favourite wine-influence whiskies!
The Dram Duo 
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