The second release in Glenallachie’s Masters of Wood series is this 19 year old whisky aged in rare ex-solera sherry casks. It started ageing in ex-bourbon casks and then moved to Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks for a finishing period. These casks were part of a traditional solera system for over 50 years. These hard-to-source sherry casks bring flavours that are different from the usual seasoned casks. Read this if you don’t know what I’m talking about.
The GlenAllachie 19 yo ‘Ex-Solera Sherry Cask’ (50%, OB ‘Masters of Wood’ 2026)
Nose: more juicy than I expected. Really nice raspberry notes, along with cranberries and lots of plums. Then oranges and some subtle floral notes. Also lightly volatile hints of sherry brandy. Whiffs of pinewood. Underneath there are darker hints of coffee beans, chocolate and molasses. Overall pleasantly fruity and bright.
Mouth: a nice mix of bright fruity notes and more oxidative elements again. There are cherries, redcurrants and blackberries. Raisins in brandy, along with plum jam. Some dark honey and herbal syrup. Then lightly burnt and toasted hints, with faded cocoa, cinnamon and a pleasant walnut edge in the end.
Finish: quite long, on cocoa and dried fruits, dark caramel and a savoury, almost earthy note.
A very interesting release, not least because you rarely get an explicit use of ex-solera casks. Also because it’s actually one of the nicest ex-solera maturations I’ve had (despite or perhaps because it was only a finish?). Very nice fruity notes, as well as a dark and earthy note, even though it’s also not particularly full-bodied on the whole – something that I’ve noticed in true solera casks before. I was hesitating between 89 and 90 here, but I really enjoyed it. Available from Master of Malt among others. Also samples available from Whiskysite.nl.