Glenallachie 15 Years Old 2025 Edition

Yeah, that nose will instantly warp you into one of those dimly lit, subterranean wine bars in south-western Germany, where in the fall, vintners drive their tiny tractors across gently sloping hillsides. Those bars always feel slow and heavy, with their oak sitting booths and dusty casks on display. The aromas of this 15 year old Speyside malt decelerates you in a similar way for its sheer weight of body, with fermenting cherries, PX-sweetness and untart oak furniture. There is a hint of acidity of wine already on the nose, as well, but it is a secondary impression at best. The dram occasionally reminds you of its 46 % alcohol, but the little that is noticeable is bright and clean.

We seem to be frequent customers in our wine bar, because the barkeeper just served us a pomace brandy on the house: On the palate, the Oloroso sherry takes over a bit more, becomes a little more adstringent, almost verges on a dry peach fruit schnaps, overall shows a less heavy side of sherry maturation.

Maybe we’ve had one too many Federweißer yet again and are politely but firmly ushered out the door and back up the stairs, because the finish is the weakest phase, is a little too short and acidic for my liking, and you have to look hard for any residual fruitiness. It was still nice to revisit the Palatinate, though.