WF’s Little Duos, today two Glenallachie


September 8, 2025

WF’s Little Duos, today two Glenallachie

We missed them during our last Glenallachie session two or three weeks ago…

(Nougat from Provence with almonds and black olives — an absolute knockout, I could eat three tonnes of it a day. Courtesy of L'Espérantine de Marseille.)

Glenallachie 2014/2025 ‘Sinteis Series Part 1’ (57.8%, OB, virgin Chinquapin oak & PX cask)

The use of very active casks on youthful distillates continues to intensify, but we’re rather pleased to see they’ve not gone down the NAS route. Chinquapin oak, aka Chinkapin, aka Quercus muehlenbergii, aka yellow oak, is a variety of American white oak first popularised by Glenmorangie quite a few years ago. Colour: deep gold. Nose: it’s the international festival of crème brûlée and soft brown sugar, soon joined by speculoos biscuits and proper custard. With water: more of that caramelised, vanilla-forward oak emerges, but thankfully it stops short of the carpenter’s bench. Mouth (neat): sharper on the palate, starting on ginger and white pepper wrapped in orange marmalade, with wee touches of turmeric and cumin in the background. With water: an avalanche of nougat with a hefty dose of honey and spices. Finish: long, sweet and spicy at once, like a peppery marmalade. Comments: the beams are showing a little, as they say, but this is very good indeed.
SGP:651 - 84 points.

Glenallachie 15 yo 2009/2025 (65.6% Signatory Vintage, Symington’s Choice, 1st fill oloroso, cask #900864, 570 bottles)

Many a splendid malt has already emerged from this rather discerning series by Signatory. Colour: amber. Nose: naturally more on the sherry, with walnuts, chocolate, a box of cigars… and quite a bit of ethanol, though it remains curiously soft altogether. With water: caramel tart, millionaire’s shortbread and a family pack of assorted toffees. And some raisins too, as expected, though kept in check. Mouth (neat): very powerful indeed, but again, surprisingly easy to down at 65%. We’re speaking of a drop or two at a time, mind you. Gorgeous salted butter caramel wrapped in orange cream and dark chocolate, or something in that ballpark. Hints of rum and the walnuts aren’t far either. With water: the savoury/umami side of the oloroso now takes the stage. Lovely notes of bitter orange. Finish: long and drier, on dark tobacco, salty touches and lime. It’s very lifted. Comments: magnificent sherry, by turns sweet and dry.
SGP:562 - 87 points.

Bonus, this other oloroso-ed one just in…

Glenallachie 13 yo 2011/2025 (61.8%, OB for Tiffany’s New York Bar and Whisky Lovers Hong Kong, oloroso hogshead, cask #805001, 355 bottles)

Colour: amber. Nose: a few hints of new plank wood right at the start, but they quickly blend into notes of raisins and marmalade, then the oak melts away entirely, as the whole shifts more and more towards nocino and those orange liqueurs one finds in countries, erm, where orange trees actually grow. Nein, that’s not quite that obvious in all cases. With water: have you ever tasted soft white nougat with bits of black olive inside? It’s rather fabulous, you find some of that down in Provence, and you get a whiff of those aromas here in this Glenallachie. Mouth (neat): very powerful and compact, yet also very honeyed. Spiced honey, especially with cinnamon and ginger, which works extremely well. With water: this amusing profile halfway between sherry and ex-bourbon, with a marked presence of oak spices, while the rest clings to honey and orange liqueur. Finish: long, sweet and spicy at once. Comments: lovely ‘modern’ style in this excellent young Glenallachie for Hong Kong.
SGP:651 - 87 points.

Check the index of all Glenallachie we've tasted