Picture a cask that has never held sherry, port or bourbon - one that has simply waited for its very first fill. That is the Spanish virgin oak behind this 10 year old GlenAllachie. The wood speaks a different language to the seasoned American or European casks you usually meet in Speyside whisky, and the result is spicier, denser and a touch wilder around the edges.
Expert's Description
GlenAllachie's 10 Year Spanish Virgin Oak is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in virgin Spanish oak casks and bottled at 48% ABV.
The bottling belongs to the distillery's Virgin Oak Series, where Billy Walker and his team set out to explore timber that had never previously held wine or spirit. Spanish oak grows with a tighter grain than American white oak, which means the cask has a higher concentration of tannins and aromatic compounds to give up to the whisky. The effect shows up as a darker, more spice-driven sweetness compared with classic bourbon or sherry casks.
Although Spanish oak is traditionally tied to sherry production, meeting the wood in its virgin, unused state is unusual - most Spanish casks arrive in Scotland only after years of seasoning with wine. Here, the timber gets to speak for itself from the very first drop.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Honey and toasted almonds meet dried apricot and a touch of spiced oak, not unlike a warm cinnamon bun fresh from the oven.
Palate
Caramelised sugar and cloves unfold alongside a hint of raisin and creamy vanilla, carried by the dense Spanish oak.
Finish
Long and dry, closing with a last trace of pepper and the tannic grip only virgin timber can give.
Specifications
Name: GlenAllachie 10 Year Spanish Virgin Oak
Distillery: GlenAllachie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Spanish Virgin Oak Finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Virgin Oak Series
EAN no.: 5060568326207
Flavour Profile
Spicy · Honeyed · Dried Fruit · Oak · Warm
Did You Know?
Spanish oak (Quercus robur and Quercus petraea) has been used to build sherry casks for centuries, but almost all of that wood is already seasoned with wine, often more than once, before it ever reaches the whisky industry. A truly virgin cask that has never held a drop of liquid before is therefore a rare sight - its natural tannins and aromatic compounds are far more concentrated, since no earlier fill has used them up.
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