Glenallachie 12 Year Old Spanish Virgin Oak Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

New Spanish oak (Quercus Robur) is not commonly seen among Scotch producers. For this edition, Billy Walker first matured the whisky in standard American Oak (Quercus Alba) x-Bourbon Barrels, then followed it up with an additional maturation for around eighteen months in Spanish Virgin oak sourced from the Galicia and Asturias regions (specifically, the Cantabrian Mountains which have a cooler climate and greater humidity). Before being filled, the wood is air-dried for around eighteen months, further exposing the oak to the spirit, adding "spicy, treacly flavours". 48% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. 6600 bottles produced.

Other reviews... I believe French and Spanish oaks are the same, they just stem from different locations, am I not right? So Quercus Robur aka pedunculate oak. Please note that some corners of the industry sometimes keep calling sherry casks ‘Spanish oak’ if not ‘European oak’, incorrectly. Not the same idea here. Colour: full gold. Nose: we are, indeed, much closer to the French than to the American. Same earthy spices, faint mustiness, honey and chestnut honeys, then black nougat (should we say turon?) and wee hints of Spanish-style a.k.a. Latino rum. My mind playing tricks on me yet again, probably. A little more ‘caramelised’ than the Frenchy. Mouth: we’re even closer, while the whole remains a little more ‘roasted’ and indeed caramelised. More turon, dark honeys, speculoos, cappuccino, with more straight spices after twenty seconds, around cinnamon, clove and a little clove. Always quite some ginger from the fresh oak, but no straight leather. Finish: rather long, perhaps even more rustic in a good way. Spicier and leafier aftertaste, earth and pepper, nutmeg... Comments: I like it the same. I’m an European anyway. 86 points - whiskyfun.com