Product Information:
After a remarkable run of innovation and achievement, which saw the distillery led by whisky icon Billy Walker take World’s Best Single Malt (World Whiskies Awards, 2021), The GlenAllachie launches the next instalment of their hotly anticipated aged annual batch-release – introducing the sequel 'Batch Two' of The GlenAllachie 21-year-old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch whisky. With a very limited release of only 1,600 bottles available worldwide, 21-year-old Cask Strength Batch 2 has been issued on limited allocation and is substantially oversubscribed by global distributors.
This instalment marries together five Pedro Ximénez puncheons and hogsheads dating back to 1997, 1998 and 1999; each hand-picked by renowned Master Distiller and Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame inductee, Billy Walker, who recently celebrated reaching a half-century in the Scotch Whisky industry. Chosen from The GlenAllachie’s enviable stock of over 50,000 casks, the Pedro Ximénez casks imparted rich, indulgent tones upon the distinctive heather honeyed charm of the distillery’s archetypal spirit. The antique auburn liquid, displays “lashings of cocoa, Seville orange, fresh ginger and treacle tart”, has been bottled at natural cask strength of 51.1% ABV, with no added colour and non chill filtered. Very limited.
Makers:
In 1967 The GlenAllachie was the fourth distillery designed by William Delmé-Evans and built by Mackinlay McPherson (the distilling arm of Scottish and Newcastle Ltd). It was designed to be almost entirely gravity-fed to run on reduced energy. In 1968, the distillery began its first production run. Fast forward to 2017, Scotch whisky industry legend Billy Walker came together with his business partners Trisha Savage and Graham Stevenson to acquire the distillery from Chivas Brothers, bringing with them extensive industry expertise. Just nine months after taking ownership of The GlenAllachie, they launched their first core range single malts. Having previously been used to create premium blends, this marked the first-ever range of single malts to be released by the Speyside distillery. In 2021 their Master Distiller, Billy Walker, was inducted into Whisky Magazine’s prestigious Hall of Fame: a permanent tribute to individuals who have made a lasting contribution to the world of whisky. In the same year, their 10-year-old Cask Strength won the fiercely contested World’s Best Single Malt title at the World Whiskies Awards.
On sustainability, GlenAllachie was awarded an SIETF grant, backed by the Scottish Government, for a significant decarbonisation project that will involve the installation of Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) technology that will half energy demand. To power the MVR, we have installed 134 solar panels in a neighbouring field.
As for the new look. Having grown exponentially since its launch, The GlenAllachie brand was ready for a new visual identity that represents its evolution since 2018. Despite the rejuvenated exterior – said to be “a better reflection of the quality of the whisky” – the award-winning liquid inside the bottle remains unchanged.
Distillery:
The result of seamlessly coordinated collaboration is a range of carefully crafted and cask-perfected Scotch whiskies, each personally approved by Billy. With a quietly confident team of passionate whisky enthusiasts behind GlenAllachie, you can be sure the whisky is in good hands. A quality of quantity approach, GlenAllachie have the capacity to produce four million litres of alcohol per annum (LOA), but have made the decision to reduce their output to one million LOA in order to place the emphasis solely on spirit quality. By slowing down production, they now have the luxury of time, allowing for a lengthy fermentation period of 160 hours, which is around triple the industry average. This move has enabled them to create a more complex, flavourful distillate.
In terms of wood management, GlenAllachie have a deep appreciation for the flavour contribution superior casks can offer. By allowing the spirit to interact with multiple wood types across its maturation journey is essential. Every cask quietly aging in the on-site warehouses and meticulously monitored by Billy Walker and his expert team throughout this process, ensuring the whisky is bottled at its optimum.
In addition to this, being independent offers GlenAllachie limitless scope for intricate and creative wood experimentation. Their hard-earned network of connections with niche producers has opened doors for them to acquire an unrivalled inventory of not only the rarest casks but also those of the highest quality from around the world. No corners can be cut in the pursuit of excellence. Billy Walker Master Distiller proclaims “We don't pursue absolute consistency; we pursue aboslute perfection. If it's a little better than the previous batch, that's what we're aiming for. If the colour is marginally different, that's because it's natural." 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.
Nose - Cocoa, Honey, Seville Orange
Lashings of cocoa, heather honey and orange peel, with notes of cinnamon, mocha and fruit cake.
Taste - Fruit Cake, Stewed Fruits, Dark Chocolate
A fusion of fruit cake, treacle and heather honey, followed by layers of orange peel, stewed fruits and dark chocolate.
Finish - Ginger, Orange Zest, Smooth Finish
Ginger and orange zest on the finish.
The Finer Details
Style - Scotch Whisky
Country - Scotland
Region - Speyside
Bottle Size - 700ml
ABV - 51.1%
