29-03-2025
GlenAllachie Crowned Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky At The 2025 World Whiskies Awards
GlenAllachie 12 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky was crowned the World's Best Single Malt at the 2025 World Whisky Awards
The World Whisky Awards (WWA) is among the most prestigious whisky competition in the world. It's judging results are closely followed by whisky enthusiasts worldwide. GlenAllachie's 12 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky was crowned the World's Best Single Malt Whisky at the 2025 WWA. Below is a brief description of the distillery and tasting notes.
The GlenAllachie Distillery was established in the heart of Scotland's Speyside region in 1967. By Scotch whisky standards, it is a relatively new distillery.
The distillery has had several owners since its founding. It was built by Mackinlay McPherson, a Scottish & Newcastle Breweries subsidiary, in response to the whisky boom of the 1960s. The renowned architect William Delmé-Evans designed the facility.
In 1985, GlenAllachie was sold to Invergordon Distillers, and in 1989, it became part of Pernod Ricard following its acquisition of Invergordon. Under Pernod, the distillery continued to be a significant source of malt for blended Scotch whiskies. From 2001 on, GlenAllachie was part of Chivas Brothers, Pernod's whisky arm, and supplied malt for its blends.
In 2017, Billy Walker, along with Graham Stevenson and Trisha Savage, purchased GlenAllachie. This marked the beginning of a new chapter for the distillery. Walker, a respected figure in the whisky industry, is known for revitalizing distilleries. He shifted GlenAllachie to producing an expanded product range featuring premium single malt Scotch whiskies.
Under his guidance, the distillery has embraced traditional methods while implementing innovative aging and finishing techniques to enhance the complexity and uniqueness of its whiskies.
The distillery uses traditional pot stills for distillation and sources assorted cask types for aging, including ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and virgin oak. It has also experimented with diverse oak varieties. This diverse cask usage creates various flavor profiles in their whiskies, from rich and deep to light and vibrant.
GlenAllachie whiskies are known for their depth, layered complexity, and richness. The whiskies typically exhibit honey, vanilla, and fruit notes on the nose. The richer, more robust expressions show darker fruit, chocolate, and spice notes from the wine and sherry cask influence.
The palate balances sweetness from malt, fruitiness, spiciness, and sometimes nutty or woody nuances. The various cask types contribute complexity with flavors ranging from caramel and toffee to dried fruits and nuts.
The whisky is aged in American oak, Pedro Ximénez (PX), and Oloroso Sherry casks. The casks impart depth and various flavors, giving the whisky a broad, flavorful spectrum and a nuanced, layered complexity. The influence of the Sherry casks is also evident in the whisky's rich amber color.
Honey, vanilla, apple, and pear notes dominate the whisky's nose, followed by butterscotch and almond hints, subtle floral undertones, and a trace of oak spice. This is a classic Speyside aroma profile whose complexity is enhanced by the Sherry cask influence.
The whisky is rich, sweet, and robust on the palate. It features a complex array of caramel, fruitcake, and spicy oak flavors. The cooked cereal maltiness is well-balanced by the sweetness, creating a full-bodied, smooth, and creamy mouthfeel with a distinct weight.
The finish is long and sweet, with lingering dark chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, and hints of dried fruit notes from the sherry cask influence. The result is a flavorful, complex whisky.
Overall, The GlenAllachie 12 YO is a testament to the distillery's dedication to quality and innovation in whisky making. It represents a superb example of modern Speyside whisky, balancing traditional Scotch whisky flavors with new influences from diverse cask aging.
Its recognition as the World's Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky is well deserved. At an average US retail price of just $67, you must add this incredible value to your whisky collection. See also the 2025 World Whisky Awards results for The World's Best Single Malts, The World's Best Blended Scotch Whiskies and The World's Best American Whiskeys.
