A BOX OF CHOCOLATES – Score: 7/10
One never grows weary of Billy Walker’s remarkable command of malt and cask management. His work consistently demonstrates a rare blend of intuition and technical finesse. Moreover, since GlenAllachie has yet to achieve the widespread renown enjoyed by Glendronach, enthusiasts are still afforded the opportunity to acquire splendid whiskies at comparatively modest prices—an advantage that may not last forever.
This 2006 release, matured for fourteen years in a Pedro Ximenez cask, comes bottled at a formidable 61%, a strength that immediately signals both character and ambition. The first impression on the palate is dominated by rich caramel-chocolate notes, imposing themselves with considerable authority. These flavours, dense and enveloping, leave only the slightest room for a delicate touch of green mint, which attempts—though somewhat unsuccessfully—to bring a measure of freshness and contrast.
The finish is distinguished by a woodiness that proves just a shade too assertive. While oak influence is expected in such an expression, here it introduces a bitterness that unsettles the balance and slightly disrupts the whisky’s overall harmony, preventing the dram from reaching the elegance it seemed to promise.
What could have been an exceptional bottling—one capable of captivating even the most discerning connoisseurs—ultimately falls short of greatness. Its pronounced imbalance, despite moments of undeniable charm, keeps it from truly fulfilling its potential.
