One of the six-strong single cask single malt releases from the ‘new’ GlenAllachie. The capitalised ‘A’ in the middle of the name gives a clue to the distillery’s new owner: Billy Walker, previously of BenRiach (and indeed GlenDronach). Walker bought the distillery from Chivas Brothers last year and, in doing so, set about transforming GlenAllachie from a little-known distillery producing fillings for blends such as Passport and 100 Pipers, into a quality-oriented single malt in its own right.

A core range is set to launch in June but, while we wait for that, there is this initial release of six single cask single malts – spanning the years 1978 to 1991, with two each from 1989 and 1990 in the middle.

Distilled 08/05/1990 Bottled Feb 2018

82/100 on scotchwhisky.com

Nose: Freshly-made gingerbread with raisin, prune and chocolate that, like #2515, also throws out ripe fruits and spice, in this case blueberry juice and clove, then comes bread-and-butter pudding (with the bread element the key). Becomes more obviously oxidised with water, with some yeastiness, barley sugar sweets (forgotten in the pocket) and, this being GlenAllachie, an estery lift of fresh banana and pineapple.

Palate: A very soft, if concentrated, start with a balanced Sherry character and an almost smoky effect mid-palate, where there’s some light tannins and then, according to form, out come those blue and black fruits (now mostly dried) on the back palate with added chocolate. Water introduces a freshness to balance this power, as well as filling out the mid-palate.

Finish: Rich, sweet fruit and clove on the finish.

Conclusion:Another butt, but with more weight and richness. You begin to see themes emerge and how time and cask play variations on those.