GlenAllachie whisky from a plain bourbon barrel isn’t something we see too often. It’s a nice opportunity to look at the spirit without any make-up.
I’m not sure why Koval casks are so popular these days. Maybe their deviant mash bill makes the cask perform better, or is it simply the convenience of buying bourbon barrels as well as rye and other styles from the same provider?
GlenAllachie 14 yo 2010 (62,4%, OB for Germany 2024, Koval bourbon barrel #2470, 149 btl.)
Nose: lots of creamy vanilla notes up front, as well as stewed pears, sweet lemon and orange juice. Then butter biscuits, honey and candied ginger. There’s a warming hint of wood, but it’s far from intrusive. In fact the cinnamon and heathery notes fit in really well. Water highlights the vanilla even more.
Mouth: the spices are more prominent now. White pepper, plenty of ginger, aniseed and a few gin-like botanicals. Grapefruit peelings. Then it evolves to herbal honey, with hints of burnt sugar / salted caramel and vanilla. Obviously the high ABV adds some sharpness – water makes it more accessible but the salty herbal notes stay strong.
Finish: quite long, on fresh wood shavings, spicy notes and vanilla.
No surprises here. Rather classic ex-bourbon flavours, quite intense due to the alcohol kick. Available through Kirsch Import for around € 130, seen in different stores around Germany.