Sherried whisky can be magnificent, all dark fruit and winter warmth, or it can veer into burnt matches and rotten eggs. With so many of you urging me to try GlenAllachie, I tasted six Billy Walker releases to find out which deserved a place by the fire. My verdict was clear, though the oldest bottle gave me the biggest surprise.
The White Heather 15-year-old blend made an inviting start. Its silky texture, honey, orange chocolate and gentle smoke make it easy to enjoy, even if it never quite becomes a standout. GlenAllachie 12, previously named World’s Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards, offers more character for around £40 to £45: freshly squeezed blood oranges lead the nose, with cereal and stewed fruit behind them. On the palate, the sherry is well balanced and the warmth is welcome. I only wished for a fuller texture and a longer finish.
After revisiting both, I scored White Heather 6.5 and the 12-year-old 6.7 out of 10.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
READ THE STORYGlenAllachie 15 is where the range came alive for me. Its nose has the musty depth I want from a hearty sherried dram, with dark fruit, worn leather and Black Forest gâteau. The palate follows through with an oily, chewy texture, dark cherries, raisins and rich cocoa. There is a faint sulphurous edge, but just enough to add character without spoiling the experience. At roughly £70 it is not cheap, yet its depth and sweetness earned it my top score of 7.7.
By contrast, the £140 to £150 GlenAllachie 18 felt surprisingly restrained. I liked its thick texture, but found the flavour too woody and one-note for the price. It finished last on 6.1.
The two peated Meikle Tòir releases took the tasting in a different direction. Chinquapin One brought soft Highland-style smoke, pine and plenty of virgin-oak woodiness. It is an interesting whisky, just not quite my jam, and I scored it 6.5.
Trending Content
The Sherry One suited me better: burnt sugar, orange peel and dark chocolate made a pleasing partner for the smoke. Its palate was thinner and less exciting than I had hoped, but it still reached 6.7.
None of these was a bad whisky, and my scores reflect my palate rather than a universal ranking. But if I were buying one bottle for a cold evening, I would choose the GlenAllachie 15 without hesitation. Which release would you put first?
To see my full tasting, and the chocolates I paired with each whisky, check out my YouTube video.
