Stop number 65 on the SDT is Glenallachie. This Speyside distillery is on the younger side, having been built in 1967. It’s primary use is in different Chivas Brothers blends. It’s has changed owners several times, most recently sold in 2017 to Billy Walker and a few other investors in what’s known as the GlenAllachie Distillers Company Limited. Enough history, on to the bottle. This bottle comes from the independent bottlers at Duncan Taylor as part of their Battlehill line of single malts. This 7 year old is bottled at 55% ABV, and though there is no indication either way, I believe this is non chill filtered and natural color of yellow gold. Only 1200 bottles were released. The nose starts with rich and intense sherry. Initially it feels like a 60/40 blend of Glenfarclas/Macallan. Nutty, maybe Brazil nuts or hazelnut. Quite fruity. Raisins, dates, cherries, oranges, tangerines, grilled plums, red apple skins, red grapes and red berries. Quite the fruit salad. Brown sugar, barley sugar, toffee and caramel with a light mint. Wood spices in the form of cinnamon, clove and ginger. Dark chocolate with a little cayenne pepper in it. Honey, heavily charred oak and a slightly vegetal/green pepper note. Quite complex for only 7 years in the cask. Intense and peppery on the palate at first, expected at 55%. Sherried oak, toffee and caramel. Oranges, dates, cherries and chocolate. A little bitter, oak tannins. A dash of water takes away some of the bitterness and reveals a light tobacco note and some toasted nuts. Medium to full bodied mouthfeel. Thick and oily. The finish is medium long with toffee, sherry, tannins, oranges and oak. I have to say this is much better than I expected from a 7 year old independent bottling. A great value for a 55% ABV single malt at only $55. It’s a real shame that there isn’t more consistency of quality amongst the different independents out there. If the palate on this on didn’t have the bitterness it would have gotten a higher score. As it sits it’s a solid 4. Cheers