The GlenAllachie has unveiled its new peated single malt Scotch whisky brand: Meikle Tòir (pronounced mee-kuhl tor). Spearheaded by Master Distiller Billy Walke, the launch introduces Walker’s first core releases to have been fully overseen by him since he took ownership of the distillery in 2017.
Meikle Tòir, which means “big pursuit,” represents Walker and his team’s seasonal peated campaign at The GlenAllachie, which began in 2018. Using mainland peat from St. Fergus, the peated production runs for around six weeks per year, producing approximately 100,000 Liters of Alcohol annually.
The peated label’s core range consists of The Original (50% ABV, UK RRSP £51), The Sherry One (48% ABV, UK RRSP £50), and The Chinquapin One (48% ABV, UK RRSP £50), as well as annual small-batch release, The Turbo 2023 Edition (50% ABV, UK RRSP £51). Each whisky carries a five-year age statement.
All GlenAllachie Meikle Tòir expressions were subjected to a lengthy fermentation time of 160 hours – nearly triple the industry average – which adds a fruity, ester-rich character to the subsequent whisky.
The Original 5-year-old was aged in first-fill Bourbon barrels, American virgin oak casks, and rye barrels, imparting “waves of stem ginger, sweet spice and oak-smoked sugar.”
After an initial period in American oak, The Sherry One underwent additional maturation in quality Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry puncheons. The result is a single malt with “impeccable balance between dark fruits, mocha, treacle and puffs of earthy peat smoke.”
The Chinquapin One was first aged in American oak before being transferred into Chinquapin virgin oak barrels from the Northern Ozark region of Missouri, USA. Drinkers can anticipate “smoked spices, roasted nuts, campfire smoke and crème brûlée.”
The Original, The Sherry One, and The Chinquapin One all have a spirit PPM level of 35, with the mainland peat delivering a more sweet and oaky smoke style in comparison to the flavor contribution of a coastal peat, best known from the various Islay whisky brands.
The Turbo, a super limited annual bottling, captures ‘the heart of the heart’ of the peated distillate: the spirit cut with the highest phenol content. The 2023 Edition, a run of just 2,500 bottles, was left to slumber in three American virgin oak casks and five Oloroso Sherry hogsheads for five years. The resulting whisky is said to offer “a powerful punch of peat, amounting to a spirit PPM of 71, alongside notes of toasted honeycomb, burnt orange peel and worn leather.”
The packaging features a hand-drawn illustration by Scottish artist Iain McIntosh that depicts the rugged terrain surrounding the distillery, including the iconic peak of Ben Rinnes. The complementary “earthy” color palette was chosen to hint at the smoky flavor profile.
“This incredibly exciting launch is a key milestone for us all at The GlenAllachie,” said Walker. “Five years in the making, it represents the culmination of our endeavours since we took over the reins at the distillery. Our intention has always been to release a peated single malt, and this is no surprise to those who have followed our journey from the start.
“Every element of the production process was carefully considered to ensure our vision was met. It’s not about accelerating the journey; it’s about expanding the experience. One of the key decisions was to significantly extend the fermentation period to 160 hours, creating thick, ester-rich distillate. Another was to use mainland peat, which delivers a more oaky style of smoke. These choices, along with the use of quality oak casks, are all factors steering us in our pursuit of peated perfection”.
GlenAllachie Meikle Tòir will become increasingly available worldwide beginning today. For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
In July, the GlenAllachie unveiled the latest iteration of its oldest and most exclusive core range expression: The GlenAllachie 30-Year-Old Cask Strength Batch 3.
Back in 2021, the brand unveiled its first-ever rum range, MacNair’s Exploration Rum.