GlenAllachie 13 YO Rioja Wine Cask Finish

GlenAllachie 13 YO Rioja Wine Cask Finish, 48 %

I have “discovered” GlenAllachie recently, and a whole lot of reviews are on the way. Many of them are finished in various casks. This GlenAllachie 13 YO Rioja Wine Cask Finish is described as follows on the product page:

“To craft The GlenAllachie Wine Series, we first expertly matured our spirit in American Oak Ex-Bourbon Barrels. Subsequently, the whisky underwent additional maturation for almost two years in Wine Barriques “

You can buy the GlenAllachie 13 YO Rioja Wine Cask Finish in Norway at NOK 1100 (13138501).

Nose: Sweet and fruity notes of late Autumn. Icing sugar, earthy vanilla, and hints of pepper. With time more earthy in character still - earth cellar filled with ripe apples, as well as some ginger and exotic spices. Leather, coffee and dark chocolate.

Taste: Medium body. Dry-ish and fairly fruity upfront. Not as sweet right off. Then a wave of sweet and juicy fruits, white sugar and vanilla. Then it dries up completely.

Finish: Medium long finish. It remains dry but it does relent a little. Some fruitiness way in the background. Some spices. Some earthiness. Tannins. Red wine - the last drops of the bottle of a heavy red wine.

Comment: Whisky and red wine casks is a risky proposition. It only sort of works in this case.

Score 83/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas