GlenAllachie 12 Year Old

GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Review

7.5 out of 10

GlenAllachie has been a single malt that’s received constant love from whisky enthusiasts since Billy Walker’s acquisition. While CS (Cask Strength) products usually get great reviews, their 12, 15, and 18-year expressions are excellent enough on their own. The 12-year feels like it’s a level above other brands’ 12-year offerings. For someone like me, it’s a very satisfying whisky, being non-chill filtered and bottled at 46% instead of the usual 40%.

Taste
7.6 out of 10
The taste delivers exactly what the nose promised. Overall, it shows a light and oily texture. Unlike just nosing it, when actually drinking, you can detect woody notes. While it starts with a sweet and spicy character, the more you drink, the more pleasantly the sweetness comes through with a smooth delivery.
Nose (Aroma)
8.3 out of 10
The distinctive soy sauce aroma influences the taste. It's almost salty but not quite… accompanied by the rich sweetness of raisins and grapes. They say it's aged in Oloroso casks, and indeed the intense Oloroso sherry flavor seems to linger until the end. The high alcohol content adds a spicy kick. But surprisingly, it's smooth. Adding a little water makes it even smoother, highlighting only its best qualities.
Finish
7 out of 10
The finish has some disappointing aspects. Despite the intense fruity notes that come through initially, the finish ends rather monotonously. While there's a dark chocolate-like taste lingering in the mouth, the aftertaste is short and lacks complexity in flavor development
Price
7 out of 10
While GlenAllachie has a good brand reputation, it's hard to say it offers great value for money. It's true that it's a bit more expensive compared to other entry-level whisky brands. Of course, it would be fine if the taste matched the price, but there are many excellent whiskies in the same price range. The disappointing aspect is that it doesn't show outstanding taste and quality for its price point.

GlenAllachie 12 Year Old

I first tried GlenAllachie in its CS (Cask Strength) version. When Billy Walker acquired the distillery, I tasted batch 5 from CS batches 3, 4, and 5, and I remember being impressed by its rich sherry flavors. Though I can’t recall the exact taste now as it’s been a while (which is why I try to write tasting notes nowadays when I drink whisky).

When planning to have a drink with a friend, I chose this whisky. When you’re looking for a guaranteed quality whisky that’s neither too expensive nor too cheap, it’s best to go with a proven brand, and GlenAllachie fits that profile perfectly.

Many whiskies change and become smoother after opening the bottle and letting it sit for a while (what they call ‘airing’). That’s why it’s quite interesting to taste whiskies when first opened, halfway through the bottle, and near the end – each stage offers a different experience. Unfortunately, we finished this bottle of GlenAllachie 12 in one sitting with my friend, so we couldn’t experience those changes. However, it didn’t really need airing – it was smooth and delicious right away. We kept saying “delicious” throughout the evening.

The first nose brings a burst of fruit. There seem to be notes of apple and a characteristic smooth honey aroma. While it’s not an extremely explosive nose, it’s typical of what you’d expect from an entry-level single malt. The same goes for the taste. It was more oily than expected, and while not present in the nose, woody notes helped balance out that oiliness. Could we say it has a nice balance?

It was great pair with food we enjoyed

The price point is worth discussing. At $55, you might question if it’s worth it. While whisky preferences vary greatly and some might find it satisfying, there are many excellent whiskies in this price range. Particularly at this price point, where many whiskies showcase their distinct characteristics, it feels slightly disappointing in terms of value for money.

Final Verdict

GlenAllachie’s reputation has grown since Billy Walker’s acquisition. Before that, I had never tried it, and I don’t think it was even imported to my region… Now it seems to have established its taste and reputation. While the brand name contributes to the price, it’s worth it. It impresses with its balanced taste while staying true to the basics. The sweetness blends well with fruit flavors, and it has a pleasant, not overwhelming depth. Its easy-drinking body suggests it would pair well with any food.

Next time when I’m looking for a whisky to share with someone and don’t have a specific preference in mind, I might choose this one again. Especially if we’re having it with food. While ‘safe choice’ might sound underwhelming, it’s a reliable option with low risk of disappointment. It could even work well as a daily dram.