Independent Scotch whisky distillery The GlenAllachie recently revealed its new peated single malt Scotch whisky brand: Meikle Tòir.
Spearheaded by Master Distiller Billy Walker, the launch introduces his first core releases to have been fully overseen by him since he took ownership of the distillery in 2017.
Meikle Tòir (pronounced mee-kuhl tor)., which means ‘big pursuit’, is using mainland peat from St. Fergus. The peated production runs for around six weeks per year, producing approximately 100,000 liters of alcohol annually.
The peated label’s core range consists of The Original (50% ABV, UK RRSP £51), The Sherry One (48% ABV, UK RRSP £50) and The Chinquapin One (48% ABV, UK RRSP £50), as well as annual small-batch release, The Turbo 2023 Edition (50% ABV, UK RRSP £51). Each whisky carries a five-year age statement.
All Meikle Tòir expressions were subjected to a lengthy fermentation time of 160 hours – nearly triple the industry average – which adds what’s described as “a fruity, ester-rich character” to the subsequent whisky.
The Original 5-year-old was aged in sourced first-fill Bourbon barrels, American virgin oak casks and Rye barrels. After an initial period in American oak, The Sherry One underwent additional maturation in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry puncheons.
The Chinquapin One, meanwhile, was first aged in American oak before being transferred into Chinquapin virgin oak barrels from the Northern Ozark region of Missouri, USA.
The Original, The Sherry One and The Chinquapin One all have a spirit PPM level of 35, with the mainland peat delivering what the distillery team feels is “a more sweet and oaky smoke style” in comparison to the flavor contribution of a coastal peat.
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The Turbo, a super limited annual bottling, will have the highest phenol content. The 2023 Edition, a run of just 2,500 bottles, was left to slumber in three American virgin oak casks and five Oloroso Sherry hogsheads for five years.
“This incredibly exciting launch is a key milestone for us all at The GlenAllachie,” said Walker in a prepared statement. “Five years in the making, it represents the culmination of our endeavours since we took over the reins at the distillery. Our intention has always been to release a peated single malt, and this is no surprise to those who have followed our journey from the start.
“Every element of the production process was carefully considered to ensure our vision was met. It’s not about accelerating the journey; it’s about expanding the experience. One of the key decisions was to significantly extend the fermentation period to 160 hours, creating thick, ester-rich distillate. Another was to use mainland peat, which delivers a more oaky style of smoke. These choices, along with the use of quality oak casks, are all factors steering us in our pursuit of peated perfection”.
Official tasting notes from The GlenAllachie for each are below.
Meikle Tòir The Original, 5-year-old – 50% ABV
- Nose: Baking spices, burnt honey and roasted coffee beans, leading to hazelnuts, smoked almonds and butterscotch.
- Taste: Wisps of sweet peat, with rich chocolate and heather honey, followed by cinnamon, ginger and oak-smoked sugar.
Meikle Tòir The Sherry One, 5-year-old – 48% ABV
- Nose: Cedarwood and cigar box, alongside butterscotch, mocha and orange peel, with hints of honey and plum jam.
- Taste: Rich dark chocolate, smoked honey and mocha, followed by fig syrup, treacle and burnt sugar, with puffs of peat smoke on the finish.
Meikle Tòir The Chinquapin One, 5-year-old – 48% ABV
- Nose: Aromas of smouldering oak embers, burnt liquorice and honeycomb, with wild heather, ginger, butterscotch and orange peel.
- Taste: Dark chocolate, crème brûlée and toasted almonds, leading to cinnamon, brittle toffee, aniseed and lingering campfire smoke.
Meikle Tòir The Turbo, 5-year-old – 50% ABV
- Nose: Manuka honey, worn leather and rich chocolate, with hints of toasted hazelnuts, dried sultanas and burnt orange peel.
- Taste: Intense peat, heather honey and mocha, followed by smoked spices, roasted chestnuts and charred oak.
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