Whisky: Glenallachie 12 Year (2009) US Exclusive Cask 5874

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 57%

Cask: PX Puncheon

Age: 12 Years (Distilled 1 April 2009, Bottled June 2021)

Nose: Nuclear sherry, stewed stone fruits, dried dates, roasted nuts, sour cherries, li hing mui, vanilla.

Palate: Medium to full-bodied, fruit jam, sugary syrup, cinnamon, pepper, hints of leather and dried fruit, licorice toward the end.

Finish: Medium-length and drying with dried fruits and roasted nuts.

Score: 6

Mental Image: Tactical Sherry Strike

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was a nuclear sherry attack on the senses. Spirited and prickly at times, the nose turned up the dried dates and stewed stone fruits to eleven. An undercurrent of dry baking spice lingered behind roasted nuts, almonds especially, sour cherries, sun-cured vanilla bean, and a light dusting of li hing mui powder. Medium to full-bodied with loads of sweet, jammy fruits and a touch of spice. Cherries, plums, and apricots poached in a sugary syrup, layers of cinnamon, and pepper spice, the profile was nuclear sherry all the time. Hints of leather and dried fruits appeared toward the end with a mellow licorice and drying tannic quality. The finish was medium and drying with dried fruits and roasted nuts.

For transparency’s sake, a friend played a role in bottling and importing this whisky, so my review may be a bit compromised. As usual, I don’t know if that helped or hurt the whisky, but I prefer that my entanglements be clear. Additionally, it is worth noting that I am not a massive fan of sherry-dominated whiskies like this. If you love a sherry-forward profile, then I am sure this will hold some more appeal. If you do not, then there is really nothing here for you. It was good for a sherried whisky, but I prefer more malty depth and less cask domination.

Overall, the only question you need to ask is, do you like sherry?