MIZUNARA CASK WHISKY REVEALED AS
SECOND RELEASE IN 50TH ANNIVERSARY SERIES
Distinguished whisky maker Billy Walker marks astonishing milestone with
second launch in commemorative Previous, Current & Future Collection
The GlenAllachie Distillery right now publicizes the penultimate bottling 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 Might, the landmark vary honours foremost whisky grasp Billy Walker’s outstanding half-century-long profession within the Scotch whisky business, with every launch symbolising a key milestone for the veteran blender.
The Current Version is revealed right now as a Mizunara Virgin Oak Cask End (UK RRSP 280), 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 selected give attention to experimenting with fascinating 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 bottom-breaking 16-year-old underwent a lavish maturation journey starting in wealthy Pedro Xim鮥z 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 rather 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 indulgent notes of darkish chocolate fondant, forest fruits, stem ginger and coconut shavings.
Because of the shortage of Mizunara oak, the discharge is proscribed to simply 2,900 bottles globally; every proudly introduced at a excessive power of 48% ABV, with out added colouring or chill filtration.
Walker, who was inducted into Whisky Journal’s prestigious Corridor of Fame final yr, has spearheaded The GlenAllachie Distillery since 2017. In that point, it has racked up enviable awards together with the fiercely contested title of World’s Greatest Single Malt (World Whiskies Awards, 2021).
Commenting on his historic launch, Walker mentioned:
“As a Grasp Distiller, I’m usually requested what quantity of the flavour profile of a whisky I attribute to the wooden, to which I reply at the least 70 per cent. As a chemist, I discover supervising the flavour improvement of our whisky because it interfaces with fascinating cask varieties actually fascinating. One factor I’ve completely learnt within the final 50 years is that there are not any brief cuts to reaching high quality.
“I’m extremely proud to launch my first ever Mizunara virgin oak completed whisky; a cask sort that has after all been on my radar to experiment with, not deterred by its plain challenges! I used to be assured that it might 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 Current Version joins the primary launch within the vary, The Previous Version: 16-year-old 100% Sherry Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky, launched to nice acclaim in Might 2022.
The GlenAllachie Billy Walker 50th Anniversary Current Version may be bought by way of world specialist retailers, with a UK RRSP of 280.
ABOUT BILLY WALKER’S CAREER:
Graduating from the College of Glasgow in 1967 with a BSc Honours Diploma in Chemistry, a youthful Billy Walker had the proper foundations to allow him to construct an intimate information of the science behind whisky making and flavour improvement.
Billy’s whisky journey started in 1972 at Hiram Walker & Sons – the corporate behind Ballantine’s on the time – the place his position coated virtually all elements of manufacturing. After 4 years, he moved on to Inver Home Distillers, taking over the place of Grasp Blender in 1976.
Quick-forward to 1982, Billy joined Burn Stewart Distillers the place he went on to spend twenty years, most notably taking part in a key half within the resurrection of Deanston and Tobermory Distilleries. When the corporate was bought, an entrepreneurial Billy was left to decipher his subsequent transfer.
The subsequent twelve years noticed him purchase BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh Distilleries, every of which had been both mothballed, closed or underneath uncovered to the market. It was at this level in his profession the place Billy actually made a reputation for himself throughout the business, main the manufacturers’ rejuvenation and subsequent phenomenal success.
Billy’s subsequent transfer was to his present place as proprietor and Grasp Distiller at The GlenAllachie Distillers Firm, encompassing The GlenAllachie single malt, White Heather blended Scotch and MacNair’s Boutique Home of Spirits. 2021 noticed Billy delve into a brand new spirits class for the primary time, releasing a brand new experimental rum line underneath the MacNair’s label; Exploration Rum.
It’s from this unimaginable document of success that Billy has earnt widespread acclaim and recognition for being one of the crucial distinguished whisky figures of his era.
ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:
One in every of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed distilleries, The GlenAllachie is led by business veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts a 50-year tenure in whisky. With an emphasis on wooden coverage, The GlenAllachie’s cask finances for 2022 stands at an eye-watering 2m/$2.6m. With 16 on-site warehouses holding over 50,000 casks, we now have full management of the end-to-end maturation course of.
The GlenAllachie focusses on high quality over amount, which is why we selected to cut back our manufacturing capability from 4m to 500,000 Litres of Alcohol and enhance our fermentation interval to 160 hours for an ester wealthy, fruity spirit.
We imagine age and integrity matter, which is why all our whiskies carry an age assertion, and are bottled at a minimal of 46% ABV, pure color and non-chill filtered for optimum flavour expertise.
Our different manufacturers are MacNair’s Boutique Home of Spirits – encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Exploration Rum – and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.
Additional data on the distillery and firm may be discovered at www.theglenallachie.com
Fb – @TheGlenAllachie | Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie | Instagram – @theglenallachie_
TASTING NOTES:
The GlenAllachie 50th Anniversary Current Version – Mizunara Virgin Oak End 16-year-old – 48% ABV
- Color: Intense Chestnut.
- Nostril: Bursting with darkish chocolate, heather honey and grilled almonds, with hints of sandalwood, ginger, orange zest, caramelised pecans and coconut shavings.
Style: Waves of heather honey, cinnamon and crystalised ginger, adopted by demerara sugar, dried darkish berries, hazelnuts and fig syrup
