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PIONEERING SHERRY CASK SERIES UNVEILED BY GLENALLACHIE

Acclaimed single malt brand introduces groundbreaking Sherry cask-finished limited editions to The Wood Collection

Prominent Scotch whisky maker The GlenAllachie rolls out its first newly packaged limited-release Wood Collection expressions: three Sherry cask-finished whiskies.

The brand is set to debut six single malts matured in different Sherry cask types over two instalments this year, aiming to explore the contribution offered by each style.

The first trio of new bottlings include a 9-year-old Fino Cask Finish (UK RRSP £60), a 9-year-old Amontillado Cask Finish (UK RRSP £60) and a 9-year-old Oloroso Cask Finish (UK RRSP £60).

Under the leadership of industry stalwart of 52 years, Billy Walker, the distillery – known for its rich Sherry maturations – has until now focused on ‘traditional’ Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry casks prior to this release.

Dubbed the ‘Sherry Series’, each expression spent an initial period in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels before being transferred to the expertly selected Sherry casks.

Known for its pale appearance, Fino – the driest Sherry style – must be biologically aged for at least two years under a yeast layer that prevents oxidation. Maturation in former Fino hogsheads has delivered a limited edition Scotch whisky “overflowing with poached pears, vanilla custard and sugared almonds”.

The Amontillado Cask Finish enjoyed secondary maturation in hogsheads that previously held this drier style of Sherry, which undergoes biological and oxidative ageing to develop a richer colour and more robust characteristics. The subsequent spirit is said to “deliver notes of dark cherries, toasted hazelnuts and caramel sauce”.

The darkest dry Sherry style, Oloroso is subjected to extensive oxidative ageing and is renowned for its pronounced nutty, dried fruit qualities. Using Oloroso butts to age The GlenAllachie has resulted in a single malt “bursting with dried cranberries, ginger biscuits, dark chocolate and almonds”.

The trio of Wood Collection limited editions are proudly bottled at a high strength of 48% ABV, at their natural colour and non-chill filtered.

Remarking on the launch, Master Distiller and Blender Billy Walker shares:

“This wood management project has been one of the most enjoyable in a long time. We’re exploring the influence of different Sherry cask types with whisky of exactly the same age and cask history. The lengthy secondary ageing period brings the incredible nuances and variations delivered by the Sherry maturations to the forefront.

“With the ‘Sherry Series’, we’re trying to achieve something special that would create intrigue and provoke discussion. Integrating the personality of six Sherry styles with The GlenAllachie’s heather honey DNA delivered a spectrum of aromatic and flavour characteristics that has exceeded our expectations. The first three expressions are truly exceptional – we can’t wait to share part two in a few months.”

The launch follows the recent introduction of the brand’s refreshed visual identity, with the core range available now. Released last month, the fourth batch of The GlenAllachie 30-year-old Cask Strength (UK RRSP £705, 49.1% ABV) combines five Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry casks.

The trio of Sherry cask-finished Wood Collection bottlings will become increasingly available in specialist retail outlets worldwide over the coming weeks. A further three Sherry wood expressions are set to launch later this year.

ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

At The GlenAllachie, each decision in creating our award-winning Speyside single malt merges logic with instinct. In the experienced hands of legendary whisky maker Billy Walker, a culture of precision, patience and perseverance has been instilled in his small yet accomplished team of whisky experts.

Being independent offers us the freedom to prioritise what matters most: quality. The pursuit is not of consistency, but perfection. Never resting on our laurels, we work tirelessly to refine and enhance each batch of whisky, striving to better the last.

The result of seamlessly coordinated collaboration is a range of carefully crafted and cask-perfected whiskies, each personally approved by Billy. With a quietly confident team of passionate whisky enthusiasts behind The GlenAllachie, you can be sure we have our whisky in good hands.

Our other brands are Meikle Tòir Peated Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits – encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

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TASTING NOTES

The GlenAllachie 9-year-old Fino Sherry Cask Finish – 48% ABV (UK RRSP £60)

• Nose: Nutmeg, heather honey and vanilla extract, with butterscotch, green apple peel, stone fruits and roasted almonds.

• Taste: Dried apricots, honeycomb and butterscotch, followed by baking spices, marzipan and caramel, with orchard fruits and citrus on the finish.

The GlenAllachie 9-year-old Amontillado Sherry Cask Finish – 48% ABV (UK RRSP £60)

• Nose: Soft orchard fruits, cinnamon and heather honey, with butterscotch, hazelnuts and dark tobacco.

• Taste: Honeycomb, maraschino cherries and dried apricots, followed by poached pears, blood orange, mixed nuts and cinnamon.

The GlenAllachie 9-year-old Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish – 48% ABV (UK RRSP £60)

• Nose: Heather honey, mocha and dried apricots, with notes of cinnamon butter, red velvet cake and marzipan.

• Taste: Dark chocolate, honeycomb and butterscotch, leading to dried red berries, ginger and damsons, with poached apples and muscovado sugar.

The GlenAllachie 30-year-old Cask Strength Batch 4 – 49.1% ABV (UK RRSP £705)

• Nose: Dark chocolate, honeycomb and raisin butter, with hints of muscovado sugar, plum syrup and glazed almonds.

• Taste: Rich cocoa, heather honey and chocolate raisins, followed by baking spices and molasses, with notes of Black Forest gâteau, grape must and orchard fruits.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us at the distillery and online for our second release of The Hearach single malt whisky!  Batch 10 proved particularly popular on the day and is now sold out in our website store, but we still have a limited number of batches 9, 11, and 12 available.

You can also buy bottles from our network of specialist retailers and independent stores across the UK if buy a bottle in-store is more your thing. Our global friends can also find this new release of batches as they begin appearing in their countries from this month onwards.

Scroll down to discover the tasting notes on our remaining batches and if one takes your fancy then an online order is only a click away!

Le gach deagh dhùrachd,

Mike Donald, Chief Storyteller

VISIT THE HEARACH SHOP

HE 00009 24: Tasting Notes

“I get a light, fresh sort of woodsmoke on the nose straight away, it reminds me of campfires at Scarista beach on those long summer nights we get in Harris. I get cereal notes, and spiciness on the palate, a sort of pepperiness like rocket leaves. There’s not much smoke when I sip it, but there’s a nice clean greenness instead. A little water makes it very sweet, like the sticky toffee pudding I bake myself at home with dates. It’s smooth and there’s so many lovely flavours unfolding.”

GEMMA McNALLY, TARBERT, ISLE OF HARRIS

New Diploma Date at the Port of Leith Distillery

We’re hoping the Chief puts sunshine on Leith this July as we’ve scheduled another Diploma in Single Malt Whisky (Thursday 11 & Friday 12 July) at the Port of Leith Distillery. An architectural triumph, the vertical distillery is a fitting venue in which to earn the SQA-certified whisky diploma – our highest award – with teacher Vic Cameron in a classroom boasting superb panoramic views.📖

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Cadenhead Glenlivet 16YO Cask Strength, 54.3%

THE VIDEO

Glenlivet is a very important distillery, not only celebrating their 200th Anniversary this year, but is one of the first single malt whiskies that we all come across at the start of our whisky journey. For some, the distillery stays a strong part of their whisky life. For others, we tend to use it as a foundation block to move into other areas of whisky.

Glenlivet had me in their accounts as soon as I tried the 16YO Nadurra bottling. My god. That liquid is one of the most important whiskies in my life, the first cask strength whisky that I ever purchased, and then they discontinued it. Now this isn’t a bitter rant at that, so many distilleries discontinued bottles at a similar time and that is a true shame, but the NAS versions were released and I wasn’t displeased by them, but they certainly weren’t the same experience.

This Cadenhead example is a fine way to retry this style of whisky that I miss so dearly, but there’s a couple of things we can be appreciative of now in the modern world. One, independent bottlers are so prevalent that you can find a style like this without any issues at all. Two, you don’t have to pay auction prices to experience this style of whisky anymore. Third, Glenlivet are respected and very important, but I don’t feel that they’re ‘loved’ anymore. I feel people buy it out of necessity because it’s a top three distillery in Scotland, and they know the name, not because they love the liquid. Let’s stop playing it safe. You’ve got enough money.

Rosebank Distillery’s miraculous revival is unveiled following 30-year closure

Rosebank Distillery, known as the ‘King of the Lowlands’ is set to open its doors to the public on Friday 7th June.

Closed three decades ago in 1993, this much-loved distillery is back in business following a meticulous four-year restoration project, and is set to welcome its first visitors later this year.

Bringing a sense of striking modern architecture blended with some of the original distillery building, the new Rosebank site beautifully honours the building’s heritage. The distillery’s Victorian red brickwork faces the Forth and Clyde canal, whilst a spectacular new glass-fronted stillroom is visible from the front of the building, where visitors will find exact copies of the original stills, painstakingly replicated in shape using blueprints salvaged from the Rosebank archives.

The original mill, thought to be around 103 years old, has been retained and continues to be used in the production of Rosebank’s award-winning whisky as it did over thirty years ago. A new dunnage style warehouse has been built from the bricks of its historic counterpart, which now showcases precious casks of the original Rosebank alongside the first casks of the new Rosebank spirit. The landmark 108ft chimney stack has also been repaired and continues to dominate Falkirk’s skyline.

After being left to lie empty for 24 years, Leonard Russell, Managing Director of Ian Macleod Distillers, which also owns Glengoyne, Tamdhu and Edinburgh Gin, was determined to save the distillery.

Leonard said: “I could see that Rosebank Distillery was held in extremely high regard and it was a huge shame that it closed when it was distilling some of the best spirit for the Scotch whisky industry.

“Being small, Rosebank was one of the more expensive whiskies to produce, but in my view that’s no reason to close a distillery. Its reopening will be a very special moment for its hometown of Falkirk, for the Scotch industry and for whisky lovers everywhere.”

Alongside the new distillery, the new home of Rosebank includes a world-class visitor experience for guests. The distillery’s impressive and spacious interior, with six stunning tasting rooms, has been designed to welcome whisky lovers from around the world.

Today also marks the first chance to book a visit to experience first-hand what makes Rosebank so special – its rich history before it closed, its remarkable renaissance, and its unique whisky-making process. Three distinct tours, Rosebank Reawakening, Rosebank Rekindled and Rosebank Revered, are on offer to guide visitors from the original mill to the three gleaming pot stills where the spirit is triple-distilled and condensed in traditional wooden worm tubs, as it always has been. Everyone visiting will get to nose the new make Rosebank spirit, while two of the tours include a bespoke tutored tasting of some extremely rare old Rosebank whisky.

Tours will end at the new distillery shop, where guests will also get the chance to purchase exclusive Rosebank expressions, such as Single Casks, Global Releases and Distillery Exclusives.

Malcolm Rennie, Distillery Manager at Rosebank, said: “The process of bringing Rosebank Distillery back to life has been meticulous, with a huge amount of detail going into each and every element. It was very important that we paid homage to Rosebank’s history and story, and we feel we’ve done it justice by incorporating so much of the former distillery into our new home.

“The whole team at Rosebank are overjoyed to finally share our beautiful new distillery with whisky admirers across the world. We’re extremely proud of what we’ve created and can’t wait to open our doors this summer.”

Tours start from £25 per person, up to £300, and are available every day of the week. Bookings can be made directly via https://www.rosebank.com/visit-rosebank

About Rosebank

Owned by Ian Macleod Distillers, one of Scotland’s leading independent family-owned distillers, ‘The King of the Lowlands’ makes a highly-anticipated return.

After being mothballed in 1993, Rosebank will re-open in 2024, with a renovation that will breathe life back into this esteemed Scottish distillery and the surrounding community in Falkirk.

Regarded as one of the lightest, most floral Scotch whiskies ever made, Rosebank whisky is a non-peated, triple distilled, Lowland Single Malt. Its fruity floral style is achieved through a combination of triple distillation and worm tub condensers – a production technique that is unique to Rosebank Distillery.

To find out more about Rosebank Distillery, please visit www.rosebank.com

Keep up to date with Rosebank Distillery on social: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Sullivans Cove has won four Icons of Whisky at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards in London.

CELEBRATING OUR PEOPLE

Congratulations to Heather Tillott and Ally Bhana for their outstanding achievements at this year’s Icons of Whisky Awards.

This remarkable success illustrates the passion and excellence they bring to their roles every day.

HEATHER TILLOTT | GLOBAL DISTILLERY MANAGER OF THE YEAR

ALLY BHANA | GLOBAL BRAND AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR

SECOND-FILL MATURATION

Our dedication to second-fill cask maturation has now been acknowledged on the world stage.

As pioneers of this style in Australia, we have a profound appreciation for the way second-fill casks allow our spirit to shine. This award validates our commitment to refining and perfecting this approach.

SULLIVANS COVE | GLOBAL BRAND INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

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CASK COLLECTION No.72

“Our casks are evaluated over time and are selected for inclusion only when we judge them to have reached the peak of perfection.”

A bold statement, sure, but what does it mean? Whisky enthusiasts appreciate the increased access to new make spirit, which has grown in tandem with access to the distilleries themselves. However, few if any would deny that this raw, naked spirit is enhanced by maturation in oak. But how long does it need? Is there a sweet spot for this “peak” of maturation? Over the quieter winter months, we have taken time to reflect on our purpose here at A. D. Rattray. And in selecting Collection No.72, we have considered this pursuit of perfection, and how it applies to the curation of our Cask Collection.

BROWSE THE COLLECTION

Our cask inventory can be roughly categorised into “young” (3 – 7 years old), “middle-aged” (8 – 17 years old) and “old” (18 or more years old). Just as being old doesn’t guarantee maturity, a young whisky does not necessarily mean it is immature. At just 3, 4 or 5 years old, whisky can have an arresting vibrancy that may dissipate over time. And while whisky in its 20’s, 30’s, or (if you are fortunate enough to try it) its 40’s, is certainly special, in many ways it is a different thing altogether; heavier, more viscous, and of course, more expensive.

At their best, middle-aged whiskies balance the bright freshness of youth, with the measured complexity of age. Cask Collection No.72 places the focus on this middle-aged group, considering the transition from young to old, and whether there is a “peak” time for bottling. Have we found perfection in any one of these casks? We will leave that for you to decide. In the meantime, we will keep looking for that perfect dram. After all, it’s not always the destination, but the journey that matters.

Vic Cameron, one of our whisky lecturers says: “A valinch is a copper tube that we use to take samples out of the cask. We remove the bung and then use the valinch to get the samples that we can then nose or taste to check if the whisky is OK.”

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