Very valid points, and I would echo those as well. I'd said before, any other distillery re-racking all their barrels would raise a red flag, but Billy Walker has probably done it better than most would be able to. With today's market I still feel this is the best 12 sherry I can get at a good price. I'd take it over Glendronach 12, Macallan, HP, and pretty much every sherry forward scotch at 12 years. Ralfy also mentioned he is very excited to see where Glenallachie is heading in the years to come. Cheers bud.
After some time with the second bottle I gotta say, this is today my favorite 12 year old. Actually liking it better over the likes of The Macallan 12 Sherry Oak, GlenDronach 12 and even the Bunna 12. Love them all, but today the GA12 just takes the cake.
I think it is fair to expect the Glenallachie 12 to improve, especially once his version of the spirit is put into casks in another 6 plus years. I like it alright but it is a work in progress. Thanks for another solid review!
Happy to see someone else who have same reservations that I have, but I'll see new batches next week in a show (& other expressions from them) to see where they are now...But I think most probably it's a question of working with the stocks Billy has currently & I agree with you about the future to wait for maybe more "natural" tasting bottlings...Cheers !
Had a couple of bottles of this. They were both releases from the first two years they were making this so were not as dark as the last few years. I find it too sweet for my taste. Have seen Billy Walker interviewed saying that there is a lot of PX casks in the mix so that makes sense. Cheers
Agreed. I have NO problem with re-racking old GA stocks : in fact, TREASURE what is left from GA of old . . . before it is gone ! ERASED by the new make. ..Royal Brackla-12 recently did EXACTLY this, and it encompasses the best of both words : old and new. The GA15 has a bit more PX even : a step closer in profile than Dronak, but I am NOT sure if you want a Dronak-twin . . .
You nailed it Narby, I was a big fan of lighter GlenAllachie core range and 10 CS batch 1 and 2 which were lighter on sherry and heavier on bourbon and new make spirit characters. Yet as you mentioned in the last 2 years whatever I had from them felt good for the price but engineered and unbalanced at the same time. Their whisky will definitely get better in the next few years but for now I will be cautious.
Haven't had the 12 yr, but I totally agree with you. It will take Walker a little time to catch up to Glendronach. After all it's scotch. The 10 CS aren't bad for the price. A blind taste would be great. I will pass on the purchase of an 83 score, but I'll try it at a bar. Great review.
I may like these more than others, but it is partly due to the $59 Cad each I picked 3 up for. No other sherried 12 year price was even close in Canada. The price has gone up since then but I am covered for the next couple years.
Yeah I've been saying this since I tried the 15yr when it 1st came out. There is a metallic note to these bottles...every one I've tried has it. It's like someone threw some pennies into the casks. Is it a distillery characteristic or something that happens with the re-racking of the barrels? I think they are good but not great yet. Have you tried any of their OB single casks w/ 6 digit cask codes or from Signatory Vintage? It's my understanding that these have not been re-racked and are original cask codes from Chivas. I bet they have a different sherry profile. Edradour is still my favorite in the sherry game right now. Cheers fellas!
For sure and pennies is great way to describe that note. Its most likely a distillery characteristic but don't have a tun of experience until recently with Glenallachie. I have tried some Ob Single casks and they were mostly misses but a couple solid ones too. Cheers!
Do you think Brora or Port Ellen will return to greatness now that they've reopened? I'm usually disappointed with sequels and reboots but this is whisky not movies.
Well both those distilleries have some magical bottles but most of them are well aged. So I am not sure how younger brora and port ellen will be with the re open.
I agree with this review. I personally think the Glenallachie spirit is pretty weak in these expressions but aged in nice casks. Very good but not great.
So far I have been massively disappointed with everything they've done. That generality is off putting, but beyond that there doesn't seem to be much character to this malt. It just isn't engaging malt. Then you add in these odd re-racked casks and they have a LONG way to go before I'll come back to them. Right now it's just a pig with lipstick.
Ya I can totally understand that but I am excited to see what it will be like in years to come when its fully matured by Billy Walker and his casks only.
@@maltreviews Because of Ralfy Made Hype for Glenallachie 12 I was convinced this is going to be brilliant whisky and I bought dozen of it, oh such a uninspiring spirit, can't believe Ralfy made it whisky of the year ha ha wasted money
Very valid points, and I would echo those as well. I'd said before, any other distillery re-racking all their barrels would raise a red flag, but Billy Walker has probably done it better than most would be able to. With today's market I still feel this is the best 12 sherry I can get at a good price. I'd take it over Glendronach 12, Macallan, HP, and pretty much every sherry forward scotch at 12 years. Ralfy also mentioned he is very excited to see where Glenallachie is heading in the years to come. Cheers bud.
I hope you get your hands on a 2020 or 2021 Glenturret 12. I also think the current mac 12 is decent but not the price obviously. Cheers Brother!
This one is amazing you need to drop a splash of water for it to really open up. This one is top notch.
Love mine. Got better with oxidation. Replacement bottle was just ordered, must have for me along with Bunna 12 and GlenDronach 12.
After some time with the second bottle I gotta say, this is today my favorite 12 year old. Actually liking it better over the likes of The Macallan 12 Sherry Oak, GlenDronach 12 and even the Bunna 12. Love them all, but today the GA12 just takes the cake.
I think it is fair to expect the Glenallachie 12 to improve, especially once his version of the spirit is put into casks in another 6 plus years. I like it alright but it is a work in progress. Thanks for another solid review!
100% Cheers Alan!
Happy to see someone else who have same reservations that I have, but I'll see new batches next week in a show (& other expressions from them) to see where they are now...But I think most probably it's a question of working with the stocks Billy has currently & I agree with you about the future to wait for maybe more "natural" tasting bottlings...Cheers !
Yah will be interesting to see the future. Enjoy the show!!!
Did you try with a dash of water? I find that a tiny amount of water brings out more of the chocolate/raisin notes on the palate.
Cant recall if I have honestly but will try for sure.
thanks for the review, what is the bottle code/date on the one you reviewed?
Had a couple of bottles of this. They were both releases from the first two years they were making this so were not as dark as the last few years. I find it too sweet for my taste. Have seen Billy Walker interviewed saying that there is a lot of PX casks in the mix so that makes sense. Cheers
I hear you. Lets see how it continues to evolve. Cheers!
Agreed. I have NO problem with re-racking old GA stocks : in fact, TREASURE what is left from GA of old . . . before it is gone ! ERASED by the new make. ..Royal Brackla-12 recently did EXACTLY this, and it encompasses the best of both words : old and new. The GA15 has a bit more PX even : a step closer in profile than Dronak, but I am NOT sure if you want a Dronak-twin . . .
You nailed it Narby, I was a big fan of lighter GlenAllachie core range and 10 CS batch 1 and 2 which were lighter on sherry and heavier on bourbon and new make spirit characters. Yet as you mentioned in the last 2 years whatever I had from them felt good for the price but engineered and unbalanced at the same time. Their whisky will definitely get better in the next few years but for now I will be cautious.
Yah excited to see whats to come for sure!!
Haven't had the 12 yr, but I totally agree with you. It will take Walker a little time to catch up to Glendronach. After all it's scotch. The 10 CS aren't bad for the price. A blind taste would be great. I will pass on the purchase of an 83 score, but I'll try it at a bar. Great review.
Ya its honestly a good whisky just think it has room to improve. Score wise Im really trying to set a certain standard to get to 85+. Thanks Keith!
I may like these more than others, but it is partly due to the $59 Cad each I picked 3 up for. No other sherried 12 year price was even close in Canada. The price has gone up since then but I am covered for the next couple years.
Yah thats like $45 US which is very good. Cheers Peter!
Which sherried 12’s would you buy before this ?
Glenturret 12 is our fav 12 sherried right now
Yeah I've been saying this since I tried the 15yr when it 1st came out. There is a metallic note to these bottles...every one I've tried has it. It's like someone threw some pennies into the casks. Is it a distillery characteristic or something that happens with the re-racking of the barrels? I think they are good but not great yet. Have you tried any of their OB single casks w/ 6 digit cask codes or from Signatory Vintage? It's my understanding that these have not been re-racked and are original cask codes from Chivas. I bet they have a different sherry profile. Edradour is still my favorite in the sherry game right now. Cheers fellas!
For sure and pennies is great way to describe that note. Its most likely a distillery characteristic but don't have a tun of experience until recently with Glenallachie. I have tried some Ob Single casks and they were mostly misses but a couple solid ones too. Cheers!
I agree, the sweetness and some of the fruits taste manufactured or i would say artificial…like artificial sweetener.
yes it can def be that way at times
Definitely agree…it’s good but not the best. Nowhere near what Billy was doing over at Glendronach.
100%
Unfortunately it is very much more expensive than Glendronach 12yo in South Africa, but truly love it.
Ya prices going up here as well
Billy Walker is involved? Okay. Buy it.
lol
Do you think Brora or Port Ellen will return to greatness now that they've reopened? I'm usually disappointed with sequels and reboots but this is whisky not movies.
Well both those distilleries have some magical bottles but most of them are well aged. So I am not sure how younger brora and port ellen will be with the re open.
I agree with this review. I personally think the Glenallachie spirit is pretty weak in these expressions but aged in nice casks. Very good but not great.
I think it will only improve which is exciting
Totally agree current releases are sweet and boring, pretty average whiskey.
Lets hope it continues to improve!!
So far I have been massively disappointed with everything they've done. That generality is off putting, but beyond that there doesn't seem to be much character to this malt. It just isn't engaging malt. Then you add in these odd re-racked casks and they have a LONG way to go before I'll come back to them. Right now it's just a pig with lipstick.
Ya I can totally understand that but I am excited to see what it will be like in years to come when its fully matured by Billy Walker and his casks only.
@@maltreviews sadly billy isn't a young guy, I'm hopeful of their future, but I'm not sure he'll be around when all his work will be coming to market.
Glenallachie 12 is dissapointment, i go for Tamdhu 12 and Glendronach 15.
Totally agree Kuzman! Glenallachie comes off as more manufactured and artificial tasting fruits vs Tamdhu and Glendronach. Cheers! 🥃
@@maltreviews Because of Ralfy Made Hype for Glenallachie 12 I was convinced this is going to be brilliant whisky and I bought dozen of it, oh such a uninspiring spirit, can't believe Ralfy made it whisky of the year ha ha wasted money