The GlenAllachie – 7 Year Old Hungarian Virgin Oak Finish (48%)

This is a seven-year-old single malt from The GlenAllachie, bottled at 48% from Batch 3 of its Virgin Oak Series. It is non-chill-filtered and of natural colour. The secondary maturation took place in Hungarian virgin oak (Quercus petraea) from the Zemplén forest in the mountains of northeast Hungary, a place Master Distiller Billy Walker sought out. The trees grow slowly there, which gives the oak a tight grain. The barrels were toasted and charred to a medium level. The nose has butterscotch, citrus and milk chocolate, with cinnamon, raisins, orchard fruits and ginger. On the palate come heather honey, cinnamon, chocolate, lemon drops and caramelised brown sugar.