The GlenAllachie Distillery has released Sinteis Part IV, a 10-year-old single malt matured in rare Mongolian virgin oak. The whisky was unveiled on Thursday 10 September and marks the fourth chapter in the Speyside distillery’s Sinteis Series.
The limited edition is the first scotch whisky matured in Mongolian virgin oak to be bottled for global release.
‘Sinteis’ (pronounced sin-teesh) means ‘synthesis’ in Scottish Gaelic. The name reflects the distillery’s approach of uniting virgin oak with sherry casks.
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The fourth edition follows the ethos of “A Convergence of Three: Three Casks, Three Stories, One Exceptional Whisky.”
Previous expressions in the series used a dual cask approach. Part IV takes a different route.
The whisky was first matured in bourbon barrels. It then spent time separately in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks. The liquids were combined and transferred to Mongolian virgin oak casks.
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READ THE STORYThese casks are crafted from Quercus Mongolica, an oak that is difficult to source and has remained largely unexplored in scotch whisky.
The wood must be grown for over a century and naturally felled before commercial use. Sourced from East Asian forests, it is noted for its tight grain and density.
According to the brand’s official notes, the oak reveals caramel, sandalwood and oriental incense nuances. The Oloroso adds dried fruit, dark chocolate and nutty complexity, while the Pedro Ximénez brings toffee and treacle.
Master Distiller Billy Walker commented on the release: “The Sinteis series has allowed us to explore the interaction between different virgin oak and sherry casks.
“For Sinteis Part IV I wanted to invite a pivoted approach that would be both a challenge and an adventure.”
Walker added: “The wood’s unforgiving nature and rarity in whisky-making meant we had little precedent to work from. As a team, we trusted in our instinct and experience, and I’m exceptionally proud of the whisky we’ve created.”
Sinteis IV is bottled at a cask strength of 58.5% ABV. It carries natural color and is non-chill-filtered.
The packaging features a hand-drawn motif inspired by Quercus Mongolica, accented with gold foil.
Sinteis Part IV is available with a UK RRP of £75.99 ($102.96, ₹9,789) from The GlenAllachie Distillery from 10 September. A global rollout will follow in the coming weeks.
Walker joined The GlenAllachie in 2017, having previously built and sold BenRiach Distillery Company.
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