Whisky: Glenallachie 7 Year (2011), SMWS 107.18 “Happy, heartwarming and hypnotic”

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 55.9%

Cask: First Fill Bourbon Barrel

Age: 7 Years (Distilled 15 Aug. 2011)

Nose: Buttery shortbread cookie, cinnamon sticks, almond and frangipane, orange zest, vanilla bean.  With water more almond, butter, lilikoi, and pineapple cake.

Palate: Medium-bodied, almond, toffee, shortbread cookie, cinnamon, raisins, berry and citrus curd toward the end, mild cream.  With water more tropical fruit, less spice at the end, hint of mint.

Finish: Medium to long with fruity almond and subtle tropical vibes.

Score: 6-7

Mental Image: Shortbread and Pudding Buffet

Narrative & Notes: Buttery shortbread cookies galore on the nose with cinnamon sticks, ginger, and tons of almond flour and frangipane desserts. Orange zest and vanilla bean puddings were there for dipping, while water brought out more of the fruity almond extract, butter, pineapple cake, and tart lilikoi. Medium-bodied, the flavor profile was loaded with fruity almond extract, toffee, and shortbread cookies. A subtle cinnamon and raisin arrived with a tart-sweet one-two combination of raspberry and lime curd, which developed a soft creaminess. A few drops of water brought out more tropical fruits: lilikoi, pineapple, and starfruit while tamping down some of the spice that occasionally appeared at the end and adding a subtle hint of mint to the finish. The finish was medium to long with fruity almond and subtle tropical vibes.

Glenallachie can shine in a great first-fill bourbon cask— the distillate does not need to be bludgeoned with sherry to behave or turn into something special. When bourbon maturation works well, it elevates the buttery pastry and fruit qualities of the spirit with brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon from the cask. When it does not work, the whole thing feels sickly sweet and overly simple.

This was one of those instances where everything went right. I would be happy to have something like this to sip on regularly; though I did not try it over the rocks, I imagine it would be excellent at the end of a hot day. A few drops of water really brought the whole thing together and unleashed more of the latent tropical vibes hidden in this whisky. Water also helped round out some of the spirited corners on this youthful dram and pull out a bit more creaminess on the finish. A few ice cubes might go a long way toward bringing out some of the best aspects of the whisky.