The Vintage 2008 Cuvee Cask Finish is a new limited edition release from The GlenAllachie. It is exclusively available in Germany, where it is being distributed by Kirsch Import. Its story in a nutshell: Billy Walker, the mastermind behind the reinvigorated GlenAllachie Distillery, and his team created it from 12-year-old spirit that was originally matured in bourbon barrels and then finished partly in PX sherry casks and partly in Pinot Noir red wine casks. The result of this complex operation is a sweet, sumptuous and savory drop that is both very drinkable and highly sophisticated. From the moment I took the first sip, I was deeply impressed! It is not often that I get to drink a whisky that runs down the throat that easily and – at the same time – sparks the imagination so vividly! No doubt about it: There is really a lot to detect, discover and excavate in this deep, rich dram! Luckily, I did not have to pin down every scent and taste all on my own. Instead, I got expert help on that front. Cause I opened my bottle, which I kindly received from Kirsch Import as a present, in a live stream with their whisky mavens Maik and Paddy. On the one hand, this urged me to finally get out of my comfort zone and talk whisky in front of a webcam; which is something I had never done before! On the other hand, it placed me in the lucky position to be able to compose these tasting notes not only from my own sensations, but also from Maik’s and Paddy’s. So if you want to find out how I experienced this whisky Beatles-styled (i.e. “with a little help from my friends”), read on!

by Tobi

Eye: Dazzling red-brown.
Nose: Very lively and juicy! The first thing I sense is fresh, full-flavored berry compote. Then follow rich notes of dark sherry and nougat chocolate, which add a creamy sweetness to the fruity and slightly sour-ish berries. Furthermore, all sorts of aromatic Christmas goodies (cloves, hazelnuts, orange slices) provide an accentuated spiciness. As strong and active as these scents are, they don’t jump at you directly. Instead, they unfold evenly and elegantly – increasing the excitement sniff after sniff!
Palate: A real flavor explosion! As soon as this skilfully composed Speyside malt hits the taste buds, it unleashes a flood of sensations: It starts with a lot of chocolate, orange and red marmalade. Then it continues with sweet raisins, cola gums and icing sugar (probably provided by the PX casks). Further down in the mix, some woody notes make themselves known, too. And finally there is an entirely new quality that becomes apparent at this stage of the degustation: a certain meatiness that reminds me of thin-cut bacon wrapped around dark grapes (have the Pinot Noit casks worked their magic here?).
Finish: Wow! Does the finish ever end? This stunning limited edition from The GlenAllachie leaves behind a colorful array of fruity notes (oranges, raspberries), sweet notes (chocolate, toffee) and spicy notes (gingerbread, Christmas cake). There’s also some exotic notes peek-a-booing here and here (dates, pineapples). A splash of milk coffee adds further depth and stature to a spectacular finale that is well worth remembering.

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Region: Scotland (Speyside)
Age: 12 Years
Alc. volume: 53.9 per cent
Bottle size: 0.7 litres
Price range: ~70.00 Euro
Limitation: 4,761 bottles
More info: https://theglenallachie.com/ (Distillery) ; https://kirschwhisky.de/ (Distributor)

*** Whisky bottle kindly provided by Kirsch Import. ***