WHISKY JOURNAL

GlenAllachie Wine Cask Series starts with three editions

Distillery News Glenallachie Distillery

GlenAllachie Wine Cask Series starts with three editions

Originally Posted: Scottish Field

June 7, 2021

Photo Credit: Scottish Field

The GlenAllachie has revealed the inaugural bottlings released within its new wine cask series.

Headed up by award-winning master distiller Billy Walker, he carefully selected premium barriques formerly used to age fine wines across France, Italy, and Spain to create three expressions to kick off the limited edition range: an 11-year-old Grattamacco Cask Finish (UK RRSP £58.99), a 12-year-old Sauternes Cask Finish (UK RRSP £60.99), and a 13-year-old Rioja Cask Finish (UK RRSP £63.99).

After initial aging in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels, the whisky was transferred into the expertly chosen wine casks to undergo almost two years of additional maturation under Billy’s close supervision within The GlenAllachie’s on-site warehouses. A

s well as the terroir of the wine, factors such as the oak species, the cooperage and level of toasting were all considered in the cask selection process. Each of these aspects ultimately influence the characteristics of the resulting whisky.

The debut instalment of the Wine Cask Series features:

An 11-year-old expression finished in certified Organic Super Tuscan barriques made of French oak from the Grattamacco winery in the Bolgheri area of Tuscany, Italy.

A 12-year-old that completed its maturation journey in French oak casks which previously held Sauternes, a dessert wine originating from Bordeaux in South-West France, after a medium level of toasting.

A 13-year-old whisky which underwent secondary maturation in medium-toasted Spanish oak casks from Rioja, one of Spain’s premier wine regions.