The GlenAllachie Distillery has introduced the second launch in The Previous, Current & Future Collection as an ultra-rare Japanese cask completed Single Malt Scotch Whisky: The GlenAllachie Billy Walker 50th Anniversary Current Version 16-year-old Mizunara Virgin Oak Cask End. Launched in Could, the vary honors whisky grasp Billy Walker’s half-century-long profession within the Scotch trade, with every launch symbolizing a key milestone for the veteran blender.
The Current Version is a Mizunara Virgin Oak Cask End, Walker’s first-ever use of the extremely uncommon oak species, representing the pioneering wooden coverage he’s at the moment implementing at The GlenAllachie Distillery. With a specific deal with experimenting with attention-grabbing and uncommon casks from small-scale, premium producers, the Speyside distillery’s annual cask finances for 2022 stands at an eye-watering £2 million (US $2.6m).
The 16-year-old whisky underwent a lavish maturation journey starting in wealthy Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry wooden earlier than being transferred into extremely unusual Mizunara virgin oak casks with a medium stage of toasting and charring. Mizunara is a really scarce species of Japanese oak not often utilized within the whisky sphere on account of its expense and the multitude of challenges it poses to manufacturing.
Its tendency to twist because it grows creates points for stave manufacturing, and its porous nature – which on one hand is helpful, permitting for larger interplay between whisky and wooden – makes it way more inclined to leak throughout maturation, impacting the ultimate outturn. Moreover, the timber should develop to be round 200 years previous earlier than being felled; twice the age of most oaks used for casks.
Following an expensive two-step maturation journey, the consequential chestnut-hued single malt boasts notes of darkish chocolate fondant, forest fruits, stem ginger, and coconut shavings.
As a result of shortage of Mizunara oak, the discharge is restricted to only 2,900 bottles globally; every offered at 48% ABV, with out added coloring or chill filtration.
“As a Grasp Distiller, I’m frequently requested what quantity of the flavour profile of a whisky I attribute to the wooden, to which I reply a minimum of 70 per cent,” stated Walker concerning the new launch. “As a chemist, I discover supervising the flavour growth of our whisky because it interfaces with attention-grabbing cask varieties really fascinating. One factor I’ve completely learnt within the final 50 years is that there are not any shortcuts to reaching high quality.
“I’m extremely proud to launch my first ever Mizunara virgin oak completed whisky; a cask kind that has in fact been on my radar to experiment with, not deterred by its plain challenges! I used to be assured that it will completely complement the daring nature of The GlenAllachie, and we’re delighted with the result. A really proud second for a particular private milestone.”
The GlenAllachie Billy Walker 50th Anniversary Current Version could be bought by means of world specialist retailers and is priced at £280 ($335 USD).
For extra data, head over to GlenAllachie’s official web site.
Earlier this month, The GlenAllachie Distillers Firm unveiled the 2 newest additions to its Macnair’s Exploration Rum Vary, Exploration Rum Jamaica Peated and Exploration Rum Jamaica Unpeated.
Final month, GlenAllachie launched Batch 2 of its 30 12 months Outdated single malt Scotch whisky. The Speyside distillery launched the first version of the three decade previous liquid in Could 2021.
