The Speyside based GlenAllachie Distillery, has announced the launch of a new Virgin Oak Series.
The new limited-edition range, features three 12 Year Old single malt Scotch whiskies, which have been finished in virgin oak casks sourced from France, Spain and the USA.
The GlenAllachie Virgin Oak Series |
Each whisky in the series is initially matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, before being finished for 18 months in its respective virgin oak cask.
The GlenAllachie 12 Year Old French Virgin Oak Finish (48% ABV) has been finished in hogsheads made of French Oak, from the Haute-Garonne region close to the Pyrenees.
The GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Spanish Virgin Oak Finish (48% ABV) has been finished in hogsheads made of Spanish oak, sourced from the Cantabrian Mountains in Northern Spain.
The GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Chinquapin Virgin Oak Finish (48% ABV) has been finished in casks made from oak from the Northern Ozark region in Missouri.
The subtle flavour differences in the Virgin Oak Series, are said to be led by a variety of influences: the oak species, the local terroir and the period of natural air drying, along with the toasting, charring and coopering of the casks.
Commenting on the news, Billy Walker, Master Distiller at The GlenAllachie, said: “With this new range, I wanted to explore and showcase the different range of flavours that can be created with different types of virgin oak. Lots of people have matured or finished whisky in virgin oak before, but I wanted to take things further and explore what happens when you use different derivatives of virgin oak – for example with different terroir, different drying periods and different toasting and charring levels.”
He went onto say: “There’s an understanding that good whisky matured in good wood makes something special. But I wanted to put good whisky in spectacular types of wood, wood with real history and unique characteristics. I’m constantly looking for interesting types of wood and with this range we found three exceptional examples from France, Spain and the USA that have helped create three very different and special whiskies.”
The GlenAllachie Distillery Virgin Oak Series, will be available later this month from specialist retailers, for a RRP of £59.99 per bottle.
Posted by Steve Rush