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GlenAllachie releases Wood Finish range

Speyside distillery The GlenAllachie has released a new limited edition range of single malts, which have been finished in a variety of casks including Port, rye and Sherry.

The GlenAllachie Wood Finish range of whiskies have been aged in Port, rye and Sherry casks

The GlenAllachie Wood Finish range comprises the eight-year-old Koval Rye Quarter Cask Wood Finish, 10-year-old Port Wood Finish, and 12-year-old Pedro Ximénez Sherry Wood Finish.

Koval Rye Quarter Cask Wood Finish was first matured in American oak barrels and then underwent additional maturation in organic rye quarter casks from Chicago’s Koval Distillery. The larger liquid-to-wood ratio in the smaller casks is said to “rapidly” release the “rich spicy flavour” of the rye.

The 10-year-old Port Wood Finish was initially matured in American oak barrels before being re-racked into vintage ruby Port wood pipes from north Portugal. The Port wood influence is said to add “flavour, depth and complexity” to the liquid, with “sweet notes of heather honey, butterscotch and treacle”.

Described as a “rich sumptuous whisky with great depth”, Pedro Ximénez Sherry Wood Finish was matured for more than 10 years in American oak wood barrels before its additional maturation in pedro ximénez puncheons. This process “enriches the flavour, creating a sweeter, fruitier whisky”.

To create the range, master distiller Billy Walker first hand-selected barrels from 50,000 casks in the 16 warehouses at the distillery near Aberlour for the additional maturation period.

Walker sourced casks from an array of bodegas and distilleries that shared his “culture of careful wood management” and also from those who he had established relationships with during his career.

“I’m incredibly excited to unveil this new range featuring GlenAllachie’s first-ever range of wood finishes,” said Walker.

“Wood management is something I’m very passionate about and we invest a substantial amount of time and money into sourcing exceptional casks from all around the world.

“I look for casks that will complement and enhance the GlenAllachie spirit, with the different woods making a greater, or sometimes subtle, influence, and taking us on a journey of new flavours.”

“The rich golden Rye Quarter Cask delivers a hit of spice and cloves with classic GlenAllachie characteristics of honey and butterscotch, whereas the ruby red Port pipe has a sweeter and fruitier flavour, with honey, damson and rose hips.

“Finally the Pedro Ximénez, deep rich mahogany in colour, delivers what the eye promises; raisins, sultanas, toffee and dark chocolate.

“With this first release you can see the impact that a quality and carefully chosen cask can have on our whisky, from the amazing array of colours to the intensity of flavours in the final whisky.’’

Koval Rye Quarter Cask Wood Finish and Port Wood Finish are both priced at £54.99 (US$69), while the Pedro Ximénez Sherry Wood Finish has an RRP of £58.99 (US$74).

In May this year, GlenAllachie opened its new visitor centre and launched an exclusive single cask bottling for the Spirit of Speyside Festival.

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