The GlenAllachie Debuts Addition to Masters of Wood Series With Ex-Solera Sherry Cask Expression

The GlenAllachie Distillery has expanded its award-winning Masters of Wood Series with the launch of a 19 Year Old single malt, fully matured in ex-Solera Sherry casks.

The 19 Year Old whisky is said to have developed notes of vanilla, caramel, honey, coconut and gentle spice from its initial maturation in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, before being transferred into the ex-solera sherry casks for secondary maturation.

The Pedro Ximénez casks help provide notes of fig, raisin and dark molasses sweetness, while the Oloroso casks add drier notes of walnut, dark chocolate and warming spice.

Official Tasting Notes

Color: Intense Mahogany.

Nose: Brandied plum, intense mocha and honeycomb, with caramel snaps, molasses tart and rich cocoa.

Taste: Plum syrup, treacle and warmed heather honey, followed by black cherries, mocha and brandied orchard fruits, with crystalised cinnamon and ginger.

The packaging pays homage to the solera process with hand-drawn illustrations on a deep merlot box - a rich color designed to mirror the whisky's natural cask-aged tint.

Designed to showcase the distillery’s scarcest wood stocks, the Masters of Wood Series launched in 2024. Its inaugural 17-year-old Mizunara and Oloroso expression was later named Best Speyside Single Malt at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards.

The GlenAllachie Masters of Wood 19 Year Old ex-Solera Sherry Cask Matured was created under the watchful eye of Master Distiller Billy Walker, who selected a small number of vintage casks that had previously held Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry as part of their respective traditional solera ageing systems for more than 55 years (which differs from the more common Sherry seasoned oak!).

These casks were then filled with the distillery's spirit. For the uninitiated, the solera method gradually blends younger and older sherries over many years, creating consistency and depth of flavour.

Over five and a half decades of sherry maturation within this system, these casks absorbed intense layers of sherry character, developing notes of dried fruit and spice that remain within the oak. Due to the time needed for all this to take effect, solera casks are an important part of a bodega's operation and are Seldom removed from the system, making them extremely difficult to acquire. 

Bottled at 50% ABV, with natural colour and without chill filtration, the new expression is available now from The GlenAllachie Distillery and online at its website with a UK MSRP of £224.99.

It will become available globally in the coming weeks.

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team