ralfy review 929 - GlenAllachie 13yo @ 48%vol: (Madeira cask finish)

[@crumpyc13]

"I digress..." -Ralfy. Yeah, we know. That's one of the reasons we watch and love you.

[@phillewis3108]

My bestest friend died of the effects of excessive long term alcohol consumption when he was 43 years old. I love your take on how to drink responsibly. The dangers are real.

[@DavidMeggers]

Thank you so much for this. I have literally started my whisky journey and listening to you enjoying this whisky has probably taught me more than I would have been able to figure out over many years.

[@davet7185]

Another classic review from the Whisky Pulpit Ralfy - I do not tire of hearing the essential messages about the quality of single malts; they are an important part of anyone's malt journey and they will guide you to the good and steer you away from the bad. Bring on the Xtras Maestro.

[@helioteran756]

Hey Ralfy, I decided to give it a shot and wait an hour. I am happy to report that it did make a noticeable difference, and the whiskey became more accessible. I probably will not be picking up another bottle, but I would like to say I’m grateful for all of your tips and the wisdom you share with us. It’s been a great journey so far.

[@WhiskyNotesCS]

For me Whisky is all about time. From the distilling, during the maturation and finaly in the glass. Whisky needs time and we have to take the time for enjoing whisky properly.

[@hoodwiser7652]

It was a Madeira influenced whisky, specifically a Balvenie 21yr Madeira Cask Finish, that really changed my approach to whisky. 40%, chill filtered, for me expensive - especially expensive fur a bottle of whisky - and a massive disappointment. A wake up call. I started to research more, purchase more carefully, heed advice with regards to alcohol percentage and chill filtration. It has been so richly rewarding, and you have certainly helped Ralfy, so thank you for that. I think it is good to have an educator like yourself, because it really can help others understand and appreciate whisky in a totally different way, even if I don’t always agree with your assessments/scores. Cheers.

[@jillleon55555]

As usual Ralfy, some interesting points for us pat pals to think about. I was in Cadenhead in my home town of Edinburgh, l took your advice couple months ago and for the first time l let some one recommend me a bottle to buy, l took the risk and was rewarded. Robert recommended: Cadenheads Cask Strength 11 year old from Ord Distillery, Highland, Distilled 2008, Bottled 2019, Hogshead, 228 bottles. 52.2 %, £53. I have never tasted whisky like this before, it puts a smile on my face when l have a dram. It takes me a while to finish one bottle of whisky, may be that's why lve got over hundred unopened😂😂 but with this whisky l nearly finished it in 3 weeks of sipping.

[@RevADavidGriffin]

Take 2: Recommended title; "That's Not How It Works". Possibly the very BEST review I've ever watched (x2). Great 🔥🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃

[@felixcappuccio6644]

Ralph you guide us right sir thank you.

[@itatane]

That was one of the best segments about quality over quantity that I have seen. I don't drink much, because I have seen far too many people go down the path that you've described. Locals are a bunch of big dafties and wee mad rockets of a Saturday night, anyway. I enjoy rich, malty beers, like Weihenstephaner Korbinian; a pint is enough to see me through an evening. I like flavorsome spirits that don't need a mixer to make it go down. (partial to Butterscotch flavors, so Glenfarclas is a favorite). By the by, Madeira deserves to be more appreciated and used as a cask finish. I've got a couple of bottles of good Madeira hidden away, they cost less than a top shelf whiskey when I bought them ten years ago, but crivens, it's hard to get here in Northeast Ohio. Funnily enough, our own George Washington was both a distiller, as well as a Madeira fanatic, I always wondered if he finished some of his spirit in a freshly emptied cask...

[@ruipedroparada]

just plopped a few drops of Blandy's 10 year old Malmsey into a dram of Pyrat run of the mill rum....- spectacular results

[@stihlnz]

Just opened my bottle...as you said very light in taste ..restrained ... my journey is looking for more powerful drams. Thought 85 was spot on. Will see how it matures.

[@farshadp6114]

Greeting Mr Ralfy, great advice on drinking, I always have this debate with ny friends when they ask me why not mixing, why this silly looking glass, why do you have so many bottles etc, I always drink to enjoy not to get drunk. My family recently visited me from overseas and after seeing my whiskies,they pulled my partner aside and asked her if I am an alcoholic 😁 Anyway, thanks again for this review, I have been meaning to buy a bottle of Glenallachie for a few years now but never had a chance and always there was another one that coming first. I am gonna start from the 12 yr old which is not that cheap down in Australia. Word of the week : Cosmetifying 😂 and great information about finish whiskies,less water longer time.

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

What I find fascinating is how many flavours they can extract from wood. My journey started at 16, 40 years ago taking a sip or two from my dad’s glass of whisky. Only started my channel during the pandemic. Have to agree with you on the sipping idea. I consider myself a taster and not a drinker. Finding something that is perfect for my taste. This channel is my goto when I am stuck. Cheers. Gert.

[@robfut9954]

There are about five varieties of mostly American oak near my walking my path. I intend to take branch/twig samples and use them to miniature mature whisky samples to see the flavor difference. Next I intend to soak the best varieties in port and other wines to see if I can simulate cask finishes.

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

@@robfut9954 I used to make my own wine and whisky many years ago. From barley to whisky. From grapes to wine. And for ageing I bought oak chips from a specialty shop. I would toast them in the oven, to get some extra chocolate flavours out. Char it for a hint of smoke. Works great, Never add to much as the process is very fast on a small jar, like 5lt. I still have some brandy I made about 10 years ago. It is fun to make your own spirit.

[@mamuka1977]

Once again thank you, I definitely start drinking a lot less when I start smelling tasting sipping than just chugging it down, Even though I do not suffer from hangovers still I truly enjoy the spirit and not only whiskey it's same for all of them. A lot of my friends start sipping smelling and tasting rather than just drinking it. For me alcohol is meant to share enjoy with friends or even alone it's always something personal that comes up in my head when I'm drinking a certain type of beverage it is a journey.

[@ADSCP]

I’m so happy to hear you talking so well about Madeira finished whiskies, since the first whisky I literally fel in love was a Benriach 15 Madeira. I wish you could find a bottle to review it (the Tawny port version is also fantastic). Madeira is that alternative to sherry and port and it’s so forgotten and unknown by many. Also the wine itself is so good.

[@RevADavidGriffin]

Your commentary is so informative and balanced. I too appreciate your prologue. I just shared with my wife how I never understood how people enjoyed Whisky. As a younger man I would drink bourbons infrequently and never enjoyed them. Then I tried my first scotch (Green Spot)

[@oguzhan0007]

Another incredible review, you make this job in different level. Thanks Ralfy!

[@MurrayCohenbluesandwhisky]

HI Ralfy. I totally enjoyed the Madiera finished single malts I have tried. Though I'm not a wine drinker per se after enjoying the Madeira whisky casks I actually became a fan of this fortified Portuguese wine as well. Funny how I came to Madeira wine on its own after experiencing its cask finish for whisky. Life is full of surprises.

[@stevemcdede8559]

Good reminder about mixed drinks and thoughtful review. Thanks.

[@robfut9954]

I like Glenallachie a lot, haven’t tried this one as it isn’t readily available where I am… but I would definitely buy a bottle if they didn’t press the price too much (though I fear they would here).

[@gregb8824]

Lots of good advice, dont forget to drink lots of water while sipping as well!!!

[@scoobtoober2975]

Thanks for the deanston recommendation. 12 year standard burbon finished. SPOT on. Definitely not mainstream boring. It is super refreshing and a slow sipper. Super cool to dive into your bothy through a bottle. I'm trying to find what you review and it's harder and harder here in the states. Just the mass market stuff is filling shelfs.

[@geerakkers2060]

Been reading all the comments. What surprised me that no one is interested in the type of Madeira Cask, it makes a lot of difference if there had been Sercial, Verdelho, Bual or Malvasia wine in the past.

[@antunmcmagnais8856]

Interesting that you focused on the finish, because I'm currently going through a 12 year old, and the finish is so long its memorable for that reason alone. Love it.

[@thejll]

Getting close to 1000, Ralfy.

[@cameronshine3465]

Thanks ralfy i love sitting down and having a drink with you. Yes the scotch mist usually a sign that there is going to be some good flavors.

[@johngo3715]

Ralfy, if casks are everything in producing aged spirits, then a lot more people would be able to do it. It's not all about the casks. Every step matters. From quality of raw material to the type of yeast and fermentation to the distillation and the aging.

[@VinDharma]

Which is why GlenAllichie is more make-up than real good looks. Reminds me of what Michel Rolland does with some Bordeaux. It’s often more about the barrels that it is about the grapes.

[@johngo3715]

@@VinDharma Allachie is more interesting than most other single malts. It's fermented for at least 100+ hours compared to the standard of around 50 hours in Scotland

[@Brad-ic4bp]

I've tried a couple GlenAllachie bottles (not this one), and they just don't resonate with me, which is a shame, because I'm always on the lookout for Scotch brands that avoid caramel color. By the way, after subscribing and viewing dozens of your videos, I'm super impressed that you haven't succumbed to the paid endorsements that all other alcohol reviewers have. No plugs for cocktail kits, books or bar equipment. I wouldn't hold it against you, if you did - You put a lot of effort into your videos, and deserve to earn a profit from them, but I'm still impressed you don't do that (We all skip over those cringe-worthy bits in videos anyway).

[@KNURKonesur]

Some of my friends who are more cynical than myself keep saying that Billy Walker has already run out of the best casks from the warehouses and the more recent GlenAllachies have been more and more elaborately "finished and/or re-racked" cause the quality of the spirit is not good and the casks aren't great as well. But in the back of my head I keep hearing what Billy Walker said when Jim McEwan was experimenting with new stuff after Bruichladdich. He said that after so many years in the industry, both of them aren't actually working anymore, they're just having fun. And as that, as an experiment, as some fun, as a "what would happen if..." - all of those GlenAllachies work and are an interesting insight, just like the series of 3 whiskies finished in different types of virgin oak. It sounds like fun and stuff released just because they can and it was fun making them.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . 'yes' and 'no' ! over time, we see the evolution of distilleries in the bottlings. Eventually, the good reputations stick to better distilleries.

[@yashav2949]

Thank you Ralfy for the sooo important prologue. When I was a little boy, we lived in a not-so-nice neighborhood (not to burden with excessive details). And Our neighbor was an alcoholic. The guy had a wife and an adult son who he regularly abused violently. His poor wife "took refuge" in our home on regular basis, at least until he sobered up some and/or passed out or just went to sleep. That person had a career in public service. He wasn't a hobo or something of that sort, so the exterior was fine, but the interior of his life was really messed up. Of course he had all possible health outcomes of his alcoholism, heart condition, liver issues, bloodflow/blood pressure - you name it, he had it all! That was so traumatic for me as a child, and a good clear picture before my eyes nowadays as an adult with a family of my own to care for. And that nasty image that makes it that much vital to repeat and re-repeat the dark side of alcohol with all risks involved in excessive/heavy drinking. Thank you

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . It happens a lot !

[@andrewblatherwick8758]

I normally have a little more in my glass (not much maybe half again) but 1 glass lasts me all evening. Only have about 4 drinks a week.

[@gareth630]

Got thinking of that Glen Moray 13 and wishing I had bought more than 2 bottles.

[@ralphwatten2426]

I was wondering if this whisky was peated or not so I went online to look at peated Speyside whiskies. I noticed that there were unpeated Speyside whiskies that were finished in Islay casks. ralfy, could you mention in your reviews what whiskies are peated as I'm fond of the peat. And what peat cask finishing does to whisky, if it's noticeable. Thanks for another fine review helping us on our tour around Scotland vicariously through whisky-

[@jonison6847]

Thanks Ralfy. Must say, I've had more misses than hits with "finished" whiskies, which to my palate appear either masking over a not-great maturation, or are spoiling an otherwise good maturation. Some are successful though! But I'll be avoiding this one. Cheers!

[@SaltyCuban]

Thank you for the malt mention Ralfy. Will you be reviewing any of the Edradour finishes? There’s so many ones that are so intriguing. Pat-Pal for life!

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . not for a while yet !

[@onYTsince2008]

13:31 to 13:41 - Whisky Wisdom right here!! 🤣😎🎉

[@Idk20tq]

Thank you Ralfy for the video! I’ve just tried the 10 year old batch 7 Glen Allachie and it’s nothing short of incredible, needless to say I’ll be buying more of that! Also would it be possible to get an update on your whisky collection? Many thanks.

[@TasmaniaIsAHole]

They're nice but way overpriced for what they are.

[@perkristiansandgren4132]

Glenallachie bach 6 is my biggest disepoinment buy 2022. Bach 7 whas amazing when the bottle got open but give it time the amqzing freshness disepear and got som more dark and bitter notes

[@robfut9954]

The only problem is have with “cask finishes” is that I fear they’re often used as an excuse and a blanket for poor initial maturation. These examples often see their added finish flavor disappear greatly after the first few pours and the bottle returns to the underachieving primary casks.

[@shaunwitzler5482]

Please do a re-review on the newer glenallachie 18!!!!

[@MrPsiman]

There are plenty of finished bourbon in sherry, port, cognac and rum but not really seeing Madeira or Marsala. I like port finished bourbon and quite a lot of them these days

[@jonathonwagner2166]

When you add more water than whiskey it's hard to get too drammed up!

[@Aircraftsystemst]

Fluffy!!❤️🐈🐱🙂👍

[@BearsBlend]

Great review Ralf! Watched it on Patreon yesterday ;) I noticed there has been a big increase in quality of the standard 12 year old Glenallachie. Might be interesting to revisit :)

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . agreed.

[@simongilbert2704]

thats your best = most informative yet ;;;; maybe you could select a cask or two and do a ralfy bottling [ please ] .

[@toolthoughts]

I've never had a madeira cask whisky that didn't have a hint of hobo smell in it. Maybe some aldehyde. I imagine it might be quite a nice sweetish aroma if you don't make the same association.

[@gavsdrams]

Ralfy The cadenheads bottle is an honest whisky OB GlenAllachie is good however is it a honest whisky ?

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . yes, in a different way !

[@10lauset]

.. Cheers to you ..

[@joemartin7227]

Great intro with the 'quality, not quantity' sentiment. After all, better to have a thimble full of gold rather than a bucket full of shite.

[@KMerrells]

Another cat-strength review from Ralfy!

[@mackal]

Thomas S Moore (Barton) just released a madeira finished bourbon (I haven't tried it yet)

[@javieracosta3439]

Ha! I just wrote a reply on American distillers turning the corner on double maturation technique. That Sazerac sees room for their own offerings in this category more and more will follow. (I do believe one of Wild Turkey's Master's Keep releases from years ago used a sherry or port finish. But a very limited release those are.)

[@andrewmainprice2179]

The blending in bourbon is not a trend I am a fan of due to the extra cost added to the bottle. When it is finished it adds even more cost to the bottle. You seem to end up with products costing over £100 which is too rich for me.

[@paulm749]

So, would you say that this whisky might benefit from spending less time finishing in the Madeira cask? Could that yield a better initial balance between the spirit and the cask influence? I guess I'm asking: is this whisky slightly over-finished? A few years ago I bought a bottle of Knappogue Castle Irish single malt that had been finished in Marsala casks that was almost syrupy strong with the wine finish. It wasn't awful, but it clearly had excessive cask flavor that was drowning the pleasant Irish whisky that it contained.

[@romanvorokhib9599]

4xd5rv

[@michaellehner2164]

a good but difficult whisky for me and rather expensive for the quality, a lot better in its last quarter of the bottle

[@danadair1349]

I'm all about quality over quantity.. Unless I'm not. Then that's what Turkey 101 is for 😁

[@chefmarv6499]

15:14 this little guy nosed the whisky from a far and wants people to know his opinion!

[@christophermallory2222]

Is that a silver spoon?

[@scoobtoober2975]

My wife put her drink down, with it half full. Went for a long walk with the dog. A person we knew a little bit was in our house. Was sober for a few years. She felt the can and said whats this. She told her she went for a walk. The person said "I could never leave beer for that long" that is why she said she can't drink anymore. She says she still feels that way. But she is into other mind altering substances in excess. When it gets in your way of routine productive life. Please slow down or maybe do something else.

[@kingzaire2444]

90% of the time I have friends over they go through the whisky too quickly. It’s really quite disappointing at times.

[@mickflytw]

Oh, man... I've got a good friend who comes over every couple weeks. He always mixes my good Scotch with Coke Zero. It's painful to witness.

[@spiced32]

I'm a slow sipper too, well a pretty fast slow sipper.. you could get hit by a bus fgs get it down Yee lol

[@scoobtoober2975]

No malt mate wants the same color. We demand full flavor an nuance. Not wild fluctuations for the worse but the same color.

[@olhemi1]

😁👍☕

[@Johnstone72]

Checks watch....5.42 AM......Shops open yit?

[@javieracosta3439]

Bourbon is slowly embracing the finishing technique. What has really kicked it off is the work of American blenders (another fairly new niche in the overall American market). The results have been fantastic from the likes of Barrell and Bardstown with harmonious marriages of Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and Canadian whiskies with double maturation in wines, cognacs, (even absinthe) and have gained a following and a growing customer base here as well. The stigma is falling away and the large bourbon distilleries have ramped up the barrel finishing to grab a piece of that pie themselves!

[@swedishburrito5073]

❤️👍🥃

[@brownwaterboys8304]

Malted Barley Bar Fly

[@johngo3715]

Also, Madeira is not like Port. The only thing they have in common is that they're both Portuguese fortified wine. One of the most important points is they use different types of grapes. The grapes for port are harvested overripe hence the sweetness. While the grapes for Madeira are underripe. So they're acidic. Tbh, I'm disappointed in this review. I was hoping you'd go more into detail rather than your usual talking points.

[@helioteran756]

This is one of my current collections and I’m down mid way finished after 2yrs being opened. I have to disagree with this one, not one of my favorites. You can smell and taste so much flavor, but it’s 🌶️/pepper/heat/youthfulness overwhelms it for me.

[@hankbankster9700]

All these types of "finishes" is a sign of sickness in the industry, where every scrap of wood and the content is used, to sell as much as possible, then a final coating to make it drinkable and special. At least Billy Walker seems to want to give the customers something more than bottlings from underperforming casks, but I am on the fence with Glenallachie until they start bottling their own, Billi Walker-matured stuff. Finishes are the devil, to be honest, never been impressed by them.

[@stevebloomer2920]

I agree with most of that, but its not so much sickness. Used to be that malt whisky from inferior casks went into cheap blends. It's only recently that there is such a focus on single malts - demands for blends have been diminishing. Glenallachie, for instance, was sold because it was excess to requirements for blends. As such. it probably did not had a great reputation either, nonetheless, the overall quality of their stock probably reflects what it was intended for at the time of distillation. In general, in lieu of blends, finishing strikes me as often the present day solution on what to do with these poorer quality casks. Alas, they seem to price these higher than whisky from good casks that are not finished - I guess they have to recover the price of the finishing barrel

[@hankbankster9700]

@@stevebloomer2920 You are way more reflected than me and I agree with everything you said, now that I am more calm =)

[@stevebloomer2920]

@@hankbankster9700 Thanks. Ralfy's last video on Ben Nevis got me thinking, and I had a nice conversation on the msg board with another poster about Ben Nevis' former role in Nikka as blend filler in Japanese blends. Now that it isn't the case anymore, Nikka's practices got found out, so what do they do with lesser stock distilled 10 years ago? I think we're going to get more substandard distillery bottlings and more finished bottlings, and this is going to happen across much of the industry (the sickness you identify).

[@martindouwe6099]

Another irrelevant flash finish. I Like Glenallachie, but it's a shame they ruin their bourbon cask stock with these finishes.