The GlenAllachies Virgin Oak Series aims to showcase the impact of oak provenance, terroir, and genus on flavor development during the whisky maturation process. In creating this whisky, the spirit was initially matured in American Oak ex-Bourbon Barrels before undergoing a finishing period of approximately 18 months in Sessile Oak sourced from the Atlantic coast of Scotland. Scottish oak is rarely used for cask production due to its tendency to knot, creating challenges in crafting staves, its porosity boosting the chances of leakages, and its pronounced scarcity commanding a high price. Before being filled, the wood was naturally air-dried for 36 months, allowing for further development of flavor characteristics, then toasted and charred to a medium level.

Tasting Notes:

Color
Golden Sunset.

Nose
Bursting with baked oats, butterscotch, and toffee, with notes of cinnamon, gingersnaps, and heather honey.

Taste
Lashings of heather honey, orchard fruits, and lemon zest, followed by white chocolate, cinnamon, and ginger, with toffee and butterscotch on the finish.