It has a unique code system where the first number refers to the distillery and the second refers to the cask from which the bottle comes. SMWS also offers the largest range of distilleries of any independent bottler. These curiously named drams really do have something for every whisky lover!
A delightful tropical fruit note greeted the Panel with aromas of pineapple, mango, guava, banana and coconut, while in the background – almost as if lying in wait – were the sweet childhood memories of toasted marshmallows. Surprisingly sharp on the palate neat, this reminded us of green gooseberry conserve before sweeter flavours of cured bacon, marzipan and bourbon syrup drizzled over pancakes appeared. On the nose, water added freshly shaved oak as well as oiled cedar wood next to white chocolate. The taste was that of a slice of earl grey and lemon meringue cake served with sour cherries in a lightly sweet syrup.
Although its whisky was predominantly used by past owner Chivas Brothers for blending, under new ownership GlenAllachie is emerging as a single malt.
Lightness is a characteristic of most of the 1960s distilleries and Glenallachie has been no exception. A malty undertone adds some textural quality to the palate while delicate fruits rise above. Under the new ownership of the GlenAllachie Distillery Company however fermentation times have been lengethened, lending the spirit a fruitier, and more muscular quality. Peated runs now account for 20% of production, although peated GlenAllachie won't appear on shelves for a number of years yet.
One of the results of the US-fuelled 1960s whisky boom, GlenAllachie was built in 1967 by Scottish & Newcastle Breweries’ distilling subsidiary, Mackinlays. It is notable for being one of the distilleries designed by William Delmé-Evans who was also behind Macduff, Tullibardine and Jura.
In 1985, Mackinlays became part of own-label specialist Invergordon Distillers which flipped Glenallachie to Campbell Distillers/Pernod Ricard four years later, during most of which it had been mothballed.
It has only very rarely been seen as a single malt bottling – most notably as part of Chivas Brothers’ Cask Strength series.
In July 2017, it was announced that Chivas Brothers had agreed to sell GlenAllachie to The GlenAllachie Distillers Company, operated by former BenRiach MD Billy Walker, ex-Inver House Distillers MD Graham Stevenson and Trisha Savage. A capital ‘A’ was added to the distillery name, in keeping with the changes Walker made to BenRiach and GlenDronach under his stewardship.
The new owners are in the process of relaunching GlenAllachie as a distillery known for its ‘big’, fruity malt whisky. Six single cask bottlings were released in April 2018, with GlenAllachie’s first core range of single malts set for launch in June 2018.
