The GlenAllachie Distillery has introduced its first peated single malt under the brand name Meikle Tòir and is now available in Malaysia. The blend is perfected by co-owner and whisky veteran, Billy Walker’s goal to create a peated whisky, which is a much rarer style in the Speyside region.
As The GlenAllachie is an independent distillery, Walker and his team have complete freedom to do things their own way, ensuring every step of the whisky-making journey is meticulously considered and masterfully optimised to bring out the most out of each whisky bottled. Meikle Tòir, which means ‘big pursuit, was created using premium mainland peat for an oaky, sweet smoke style, as well as a process of extended fermentation, exacting distillation and expert maturation in order to elevate the spirit to its pinnacle.
From the selection of the finest malted barley to the patient maturation process in specially curated oak casks, every step in the creation of Meikle Tòir Scotch Whisky is a testament to the team’s unwavering dedication to quality and precision. The liquid in every cask must meet the rigorous standards of Walker, who is also the Master Distiller, and his team before it is bottled for the enjoyment of others.
The Meikle Tòir range is offered in four blends – The Original, The Sherry One, The Chinquapin One and The Turbo. While the range features blends that have been aged for five years, each expression offers a distinctive character and flavour that stems from different maturation methods and production processes.
1)The Original
The Original is the best introduction to the Meikle Tòir range as a classic single malt that truly champions the brand’s peated pursuit. Made with mainland peat from St. Fergus, the flavour contribution is sweeter than that anticipated of a coastal peat.
ABV : 50%
Maturation
First-fill Bourbon barrels, American virgin oak casks and Rye barrels
Nose
Baking spices, burnt honey and roasted coffee beans, hazelnuts, smoked almonds, and butterscotch
Taste
Wisps of sweet peat with rich chocolate and heather honey, followed by cinnamon, ginger and oak-smoked sugar
2) The Sherry One
For sweeter, fruit-forward flavours that mingle harmoniously with wisps of peat smoke, The Sherry One offers the perfect balance. A lengthy fermentation period of 160 hours resulted in a fruit-forward spirit that is then expertly matured in quality Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry puncheons, imparting rich, fruity notes that work delightfully with the peat smoke.
ABV : 48%
Maturation
American Oak ex-Bourbon barrels, followed by Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry puncheons
Nose
Cedarwood and cigar box, alongside butterscotch, mocha and orange peel, with hints of honey and plum jam
Taste
Rich dark chocolate, smoked honey and mocha, followed by fig syrup, treacle and burnt sugar, with puffs of peat smoke on the finish
3)The Chinquapin One
Offering a sweeter style of smoke character owing to the mainland peat from St. Fergus, this unique blend is aged in superior Chinquapin Virgin Oak casks sourced from the Northern Ozark region of Missouri, USA. The result is a robust mix of sweet spices and toasted nuts that are complemented by the sweeter peat smoke.
ABV : 48%
Maturation
American Oak ex-Bourbon barrels, followed by Chinquapin Virgin Oak barrels
Nose
Aromas of smouldering oak embers, burnt liquorice and honeycomb, with wild heather, ginger, butterscotch and orange peel
Taste
Dark chocolate, crème brulee and toasted almonds, leading to cinnamon, brittle toffee, aniseed and lingering campfire smoke
4) The Turbo 2023 Edition
Taking the ‘heart of the heart’ of the Meikle Tòir distillate – the spirit cut that contains the highest phenol content – ‘The Turbo’ features an amplified smoky identity. The 2023 Release is a combination of three American Virgin Oak casks and five Oloroso hogsheads that result in a multi-faceted whisky with a powerful punch of peat.
ABV : 50%
Maturation
Three American Virgin Oak casks and five Oloroso hogsheads
Nose
Manuka honey, worn leather and rich chocolate with hints of toasted hazelnuts, dried sultanas and burnt orange peel
Taste
Intense peat, heather honey and mocha, followed by smoked spices, roasted chestnuts and charred oak
Meikle Tòir packaging features a hand-drawn illustration by Scottish illustrator Iain McIntosh that captures the beautiful yet rugged surroundings of the distillery’s Speyside home. The central peak in the illustration is inspired by Ben Rinnes, the highest peak in the area. As a brand that focuses on the finer details, even the earthy colour palette of the packaging hints at the smoky flavour profile of the whisky and was inspired by moss, oak, heather and sky – all the elements of nature that are local to The GlenAllachie Distillery.
The Meikle Tòir range is now available in Malaysia via AsiaEuro Wines & Spirits with the RSP ranging from RM450 – RM465 depending on the expression. For more information, visit www.meikletoir.com or www.asiaeurowines.com.