Nose: Preserved stone-fruit in syrup, caramel fudge, dark chocolate covered sultanas, orange peel, powdered dried ginger, honey. Palate: The arrival is sweet and reminiscent of fruit ‘n nut milk chocolate. Malted milk, mocha coffee, vanilla and orchard fruits appear first in the development followed by citrus, warm spice (mild cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger) and a pleasant oak-wood quality. The texture is creamy rather than oily. Finish: Medium/long. Dark chocolate, black coffee, dark fruits and a dash of orange bitters. The nose is more expansive than the younger core-range Glenallachie whiskies and it conveys an immediate impression of age and depth. There is a similarity to the profile of the 12 but this is more relaxed and dignified while retaining its robust Glenallachie character. The palate is likewise more refined and softer, the bitter and intense qualities of the younger expressions having been tamed. The finish carries on this overall impression of maturity. I had both the 12 and 18 year old Glenallachie whiskies when they were first released, but while the contemporary 12 year old seems much the same as the 2018 expression this recent 18 year old is softer and more assured than the original bottling, and altogether improved. It’s a whisky that repays patience and although it takes a while to wake up in the glass the wait is worth it. I’d recommend just a dash of water and letting it sit for at least 10 minutes. As it says in the official Distiller tasting notes this unfurls further fruity notes, and it also intensifies the sherry cask influence. The third whisky I tasted at the Sydney Whisky Show 2021. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)