1990 The GlenAllachie 35 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Billy Walker selected just four exceptional cask types from an enviable inventory to be bottled as a 35-year-old Cask Strength: Mizunara virgin oak, American virgin oak, Oloroso Sherry, and Pedro Ximénez Sherry. The former has become well known as a prized Japanese wood sourced from 200-year-old trees. Bottled at 50.2% ABV, the packaging draws inspiration from Kumiko, the traditional Japanese carpentry art of creating intricate patterns from wood without the use of nails. The sides of the box depict the top of the distillery and four different patterns, each representing the type of cask that shaped the whisky inside. Harmonising Mizunara with three iconic and time-honoured cask types creates a symphony of flavours, balancing warm spice, luscious dried fruit, creamy vanilla, and rich molasses into a refined and full-bodied expression. Non chill filtered.

Other reviews... Natural cask strength here, naturally (S.!) Careful, this baby will have seen four types of casks, virgin mizunara oak, American virgin oak, oloroso sherry and Pedro Ximénez sherry. Which does not necessarily make it a woodsky, let us not leap to hasty conclusions, please, even if there must inevitably have been some finishings and plenty of woodspiel… The truth resides in the glass, I remind you. Colour: mahogany. Nose: walnut husk, toffee, fir bud liqueur and very old Jerez brandy. All of that works like a Rolex just back from a service at an authorised watchmaker. With water: fresher, almost fruity, more on very ripe figs and dates stuffed with marzipan. Murderously good. Mouth (neat): but of course it is excellent. Old Ténarèze married to that very old Jerez brandy we had just mentioned, prunes, pipe tobacco, tamarind jam, and a woodiness that is present but elegant, in the style of very black ex-samovar tea. With water: in come the old fortified wines, Banyuls, Madeiras, Ports, Marsalas, Malagas and many more besides. The very black teas and the cocoa in the background remind us of the rather massive presence of the wood, but all in full elegance. Finish: it carries on with very dark chocolate filled with liqueur. Even Jägermeister. Comments: very fine balancing act, insofar as I may modestly judge such things. 90 points - whiskyfun.com

 ...The aroma is very deep – dried fruit, especially dried orange peel, yeast cake with orange, spices, exotic woods, chocolate with dried cherry, light tobacco, leather, and walnuts. On the palate, sweetness and tartness, anise, licorice, astringent leather, tobacco, and notes of strong tannins reminiscent of an old Armagnac. The finish is tannic and salty, with notes of umami, lovage, and sweet dried fruit, especially dried apricot and quince. A rather sharp tobacco note, leather, and plenty of licorice. This is a very complex whisky. - whiskybase.com

Notes from the producers... Nose: Mocha, crystalised cinnamon and treacle tart, followed by cocoa, toasted hazelnuts and pineapple, with soft notes of ginger and heather honey. Taste: Cocoa, baking spices and chocolate-coated raisins, followed by coconut, brandied orchard fruits and sandalwood, with vanilla, dried red fruits and honeycomb.