2008 Glenallachie, AD Rattray 15 yo 64.5%

A seriously-aged, classic and complex sherry-cask Speyside malt. It really evokes sherry: it’s as dark as Pedro Ximenez, and is full of Oloroso-like salty and sweet notes. Think toffee, milk chocolate, walnut, leather, old books. Glenallachie Distillery sits in the heart of Speyside, at the foot of the mountain Ben Rinnes, and is actually one of Scotland’s most copiously productive malt whisky distillery. But it hides its light under a bushel, with almost all the production going into upmarket blends. This rare single cask bottling is a chance to see it in its native glory. (NT 05/07/24)