GlenAllachie – 11 y.o. Palo Cortado Sherry Cask Finish (70cl, 48%)

An eleven-year-old Speyside single malt whisky from GlenAllachie, bottled at 48% in natural colour and without chill filtration. It matured for around seven years in ex-bourbon casks of American oak, then for about four years in Palo Cortado puncheons and hogsheads from Cádiz. Palo Cortado combines the aromatic finesse of Amontillado with the structure and fullness of Oloroso. The dry, complex sherry character meets heather honey and a profile of dark fruits, spices, mocha and chocolate. The nose brings cinnamon, butterscotch and plum with heather honey, raisin and candied ginger. The palate opens with roasted honeycomb, blackberry and baking spices, then Maraschino cherry, mocha and plum jam, with dark sugar syrup and dark chocolate. The long, clearly structured finish carries Palo Cortado influence through dark sugar syrup and dark chocolate, with cinnamon, mocha and plum fading and clove and sweet fruit notes remaining.