Lead by master distiller, Billy Walker, The GlenAllachie has revealed the maiden bottlings released in its new Wine Cask Series.
In order to create the series, Walker selected barriques that had formerly been used to age fine wines in France, Italy, and Spain. The limited-edition range is made up of an 11-year-old Grattamacco Cask Finish, a 12-year-old Sauternes Cask Finish, and a 13-year-old Rioja Cask Finish.
The liquid was initially ages in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels, before the whisky was transferred into the wine casks for an additional two years of maturation. Alongside the influence of terroir from the wine casks, factors such as oak species, the cooperage, and level of toasting were all considered during the cask selection process.
A closer look at the debut instalment of the Wine Cask Series showcases 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. Then 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. Lastly there is the 13-year-old whisky which underwent secondary maturation in medium-toasted Spanish oak casks from Rioja, one of Spain’s premier wine regions.
Every whisky in the range is available in very limited quantities, with only around 6,000 bottles per release. The bottlings are presented at 48% ABV, without added colouring or chill filtration.
Walker comments: “We are delighted to be launching our Wine Cask Series with a trio of really interesting expressions. Cask-finishing is perhaps the most exciting part of wood management because it allows an extra layer of complexity to be added to the whisky, whilst ensuring that the distillery character is not overpowered by the influence of the Oak.
“Selecting and working with these wine barriques was a labour of love, and I’m delighted with the variety we have achieved in these three bottlings: the Grattamacco delivers a nutty, stone fruit character, the Sauternes reveals an elegant grapefruit and elderflower tone, and the Rioja overflows with red berry sophistication.”
The GlenAllachie Wine Cask Series is available from specialist retailers globally, with further expressions in the pipeline to join the range in the coming years.
In order to create the series, Walker selected barriques that had formerly been used to age fine wines in France, Italy, and Spain. The limited-edition range is made up of an 11-year-old Grattamacco Cask Finish, a 12-year-old Sauternes Cask Finish, and a 13-year-old Rioja Cask Finish.
The liquid was initially ages in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels, before the whisky was transferred into the wine casks for an additional two years of maturation. Alongside the influence of terroir from the wine casks, factors such as oak species, the cooperage, and level of toasting were all considered during the cask selection process.
A closer look at the debut instalment of the Wine Cask Series showcases 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. Then 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. Lastly there is the 13-year-old whisky which underwent secondary maturation in medium-toasted Spanish oak casks from Rioja, one of Spain’s premier wine regions.
Every whisky in the range is available in very limited quantities, with only around 6,000 bottles per release. The bottlings are presented at 48% ABV, without added colouring or chill filtration.
Walker comments: “We are delighted to be launching our Wine Cask Series with a trio of really interesting expressions. Cask-finishing is perhaps the most exciting part of wood management because it allows an extra layer of complexity to be added to the whisky, whilst ensuring that the distillery character is not overpowered by the influence of the Oak.
“Selecting and working with these wine barriques was a labour of love, and I’m delighted with the variety we have achieved in these three bottlings: the Grattamacco delivers a nutty, stone fruit character, the Sauternes reveals an elegant grapefruit and elderflower tone, and the Rioja overflows with red berry sophistication.”
The GlenAllachie Wine Cask Series is available from specialist retailers globally, with further expressions in the pipeline to join the range in the coming years.
