50°
Distillery : The GlenAllachie - Speyside
1st Fill Bourbon, American Virgin Oak and Rye Whiskey Casks
Original Bottling
Core Range
Single Malt
Launched in 2023
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
Peated around 35 ppm
Billy Walker is definitely a character. After restoring the glory of GlenDronach, Glenglaussaugh and BenRiach, three distilleries which he later sold, he is now working to sublimate the distillate from GlenAllachie. And not content with just succeeding, he also wants to give it a peated version, which will be called Meikle Tòir. The peat from Speyside is specific, it has little in common with that from Islay, it's not maritime, but rustic, earthy, vegetal. To bring out the best in it, Billy Walker chose to age his spirits in three different types of cask: first-fill Bourbon, American virgin oak and rye whiskey. The result is a 5-year-old whisky, it needs to stay young to preserve the power of the peat.
Let's Taste It :
Cereals in a mess, quite rough, rye, barley, toasted wheat, muesli, but there's also the influence of Bourbon with lumpy vanilla and a zest of lemon. Heather honey, wood glue, caramel, liquorice. Unvarnished wood. A little soft on the palate, but you can still feel the character. Fruit and liquorice, plums, grapes, blueberries. There's a sense of coarse grain, unrefined and rather exuberant spices. Strong finish, earth and humus, flambéed chestnuts, nutmeg. Charcoal.
In Short,
It's just as it should be, and even better than I expected. There's not much of the countryside here, but the peat is harmonious and intense, cereal-like, full of dried fruits and woody. Well done, Billy, once again. As for the price, it's just fine, and I'd recommend buying it before everyone realises what a bargain it is and that it's sold out.
Score : 88
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Texas Hippie Coalition - Moonshine
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