When Billy Walker took over management of the GlenAllachie distillery in 2017, it was certain that the distillery was in good hands. Walker, who has been working in the whisky industry since 1972, has a wealth of knowledge and experience and has brought GlenAllachie out of the shadows. In 2023 GlenAllachie’s new peated whisky brand, Meikle Tòir, was announced, adding a new facet to the market presence of this Speyside distillery.
GlenAllachie Meikle Tòir
GlenAllachie’s new peated whisky label marks the first core releases to be managed by Walker from start to finish since his acquisition of the distillery in 2017. The collection consists of the following bottles:
- The Original 5 Year Old, 50% ABV, 35 PPM, RRP £51
- The Sherry One 5 Year Old, 48% ABV, 35 PPM, RRP £50
- The Chinquapin One 5 Year Old, 48% ABV, 35 PPM, RRP £50
- The Turbo 2023 Edition 5 Year Old Annual Small Batch Release, 50% ABV, 71 PPM, RRP £51
Image: GlenAllachie
The production methods used for the GlenAllachie Meikle Tòir series set the series apart from other GlenAllachie expressions, as well as what a drinker would expect from a typical peated Scotch whisky.
Firstly, the barley was fermented for over 160 hours, which is almost three times the average fermentation time in the industry. Then, the expressions were matured and finished in a range of different casks including American virgin oak, rye, Pedro Ximenez, Olroso, and Chinquapin.
Speaking about the process of creating these new expressions, Walker said “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”.
The creative process also involved enlisting the help of Iain McIntosh, a Scottish illustrator who has previously created artwork for the likes of Ardbeg, Craigellachie, Aberfeldy, and Bunnahabhain. The labels feature illustrations by McIntosh depicting the landscape around GlenAllachie, including Ben Rinnes in the background.
The release of Meikle Tòir in 2023 coincides with a huge milestone in GlenAllachie’s global outreach, as the distillery has recently reported over £20 million in sales for the first time.
It seems that Billy Walker’s magic touch is working wonders for GlenAllachie. Watch this space to see what the distillery will offer us next.
You can register your interest in the new expressions here.
Billy Walker’s Career In The Whisky Industry
Billy Walker began his long career in the whisky industry in 1972, when he joined the blending team at Hiram Walker & Sons in Dumbarton. From there, he became Master Blender at Inver House in 1976, where he had more freedom to explore the complex nature of whisky blending and maturation in different types of casks.
Then, in 1982, Walker began a 20 year stint with Burn Stewart Distillers which allowed him the opportunity to lend a hand in the recomissioning of Deanston and Tobermory. With a newfound appetite for reviving old distilleries, Billy Walker and two business partners acquired BenRiach distillery from Pernod Ricard in 2003. Over the next 12 years, Billy Walker helped establish distilleries such as GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh. When BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh were bought by Brown-Forman in 2016, Walker set his sights on GlenAllachie, which he purchased with two business partners in 2017.
