GlenAllachie debuts mizunara cask-finished whisky

Master distiller Billy Walker has added a 16-year-old mizunara cask-finished whisky to GlenAllachie’s The Past, The Present & Future Series.

The limited edition series was launched earlier this year to mark Walker’s 50-year tenure in the Scotch industry.

Walker said: “As a master distiller, I’m regularly asked what proportion of the flavour profile of a whisky I attribute to the wood, to which I answer at least 70%.

“As a chemist, I find supervising the flavour development of our whisky as it interfaces with interesting cask types truly fascinating. One thing I’ve absolutely learnt in the last 50 years is that there are no short cuts to achieving quality.”

The GlenAllachie Present Edition 16 Year Old Mizunara Virgin Oak Finish was matured in Pedro Ximénez (PX) and oloroso Sherry casks, before a secondary ageing in ‘ultra-rare’ mizunara oak from Japan.

Only 2,900 bottles are available on a global basis, retailing for £280 (US$336). Clocking in at 48% ABV, the liquid is non-chill-filtered.

Walker added: “I’m incredibly proud to release my first ever mizunara virgin oak-finished whisky; a cask type that has of course been on my radar to experiment with, not deterred by its undeniable challenges.

“I was confident that it would perfectly complement the bold nature of The GlenAllachie, and we’re delighted with the outcome. A very proud moment for a special personal milestone.”

On the nose, the whisky deliver dark chocolate, heather honey and grilled almond aromas. The palate presents flavours of cinnamon and crystallised ginger, followed by hazelnuts and fig syrup.

The expression joins the The GlenAllachie Billy Walker 50th Anniversary Past Edition bottling in the series, a fully Sherry matured 16-year-old single malt.

In May this year, the distillery released the second batch of its oldest core expression, a 30-year-old single malt Scotch aged in PX, oloroso Sherry and American virgin oak casks.