Wee Drammers

WEE DRAMMERS BACK TOGETHER IN JULY

A full complement of the WeeDrammers gathered at Jim W.’s in July to sample #’s 192 and 193 in our ongoing quest. This time, Jim offered a unique dram from the folks at “That Boutique-Y Whisky Company” and a previous favourite first sampled in 2019, the GlenAllachie 12year old. Both were received with enthusiasm as was the wonderful array of nibbles Jim had prepared.

First up was the offering from That Boutique-Y Whisky Company – a wonderful 12 year old Speyside single malt. A quick search using Chat GPT tells us “That Boutique-y Whisky Company is known for its eclectic approach to bottling single malts, often offering limited-edition releases from a wide variety of distilleries across Scotland. Each bottle comes with quirky, illustrated labels and a small-batch ethos that appeals to adventurous whisky drinkers”. And the folks at Masters of Malt tells us more about the 12 year old. “Hailing from an undisclosed Speyside distillery, this single malt spent a full dozen years maturing in oloroso sherry casks – just look at that rich, dark hue. It’s a delightfully complex and moreish sipper, brimming with chewy malt, caramelised nuts, fruit cake spice, and oily oak.”

Tasting Notes:

Appearance – Visually rich: a chestnut or copper-brown hue hints at its sherry-cask heritage. The legs are fluid—mild viscosity with a medium sheen .
Nose – Inviting and multi-layered: caramelised nuts, milk chocolate or chocolate mousse, flamed orange peel, warming cassia/cinnamon and smoky oak top the sensory experience. Subtle pine resin or earthy undertones add depth .
Palate – A satisfying medium body with chewy, fruity spice. Expect tangy cranberry and stewed berries alongside vanilla, walnut oil, and subtle floral notes—rose, violet, icing sugar and freshly mown grass weave into the mix. The oak remains present without overwhelming
Finish – Medium to medium-long: peppery spice lingers, with oak tannin and floral echoes. The drying effect is balanced by residual dried fruit sweetness and gentle heat toward the end

This 70 cl Speyside expression is part of TBWC’s core range, aged for 12 years in all-new Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 45.8% ABV, non-chill filtered and naturally coloured. Jim purchased this Dram from The Landing in Nanaimo, paying roughly $126.00

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GLENALLACHIE 12 YEAR OLD SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT🏆

Jim’s second dram for the evening. The GlenAllachie 12 Year from Speyside was named “World’s Best Single Malt” and “Best Scotch Speyside Single Malt 2025” at the World Whiskies Awards. Judges highlighted a profile featuring dried fruit, chocolate, orange zest, nutmeg and cinnamon . This 12 year old is a “flagship bottling from GlenAllachie” under Billy Walker’s stewardship—the whisky maker behind GlenDronach and BenRiach.

Appearance – Deep burnished mahogany to coppery gold, unusually dark for an uncoloured whisky—evidence of its heavy sherry oak influence
Nose – Ripe and rich aromas with a sherry-laden backbone: butterscotch, treacle, sticky raisins, warm honey, mocha, dark chocolate, marzipan, and subtle spice—think espresso and cinnamon bark
On the Palate – Full‑bodied and syrupy, this whisky opens with luscious dried fruit—raisins, figs, stewed apple and apricot—layered with butterscotch, honey, dark chocolate, and coffee notes. Beneath, mellow nutmeg, cinnamon spice, vanilla oak and toasted almond gently build. The virgin oak adds creamy sweetness and weight. Some reviewers note a slight dryness or chalkiness from cask oak tannins

The Whisky Exchange has this to say about the GlenAllachie 12. “A bold and expressive dram with notes of fruit preserves, Christmas cake, treacle toffee, and dark chocolate truffles. Savoury touches of imperial stout and dried mushrooms round out the picture, alongside intense spices that persist over a long and warming finish. This robust profile is achieved through ageing in a combination of dry oloroso and sweet Pedro Ximenez sherry casks along with new American oak barrels. GlenAllachie’s flagship single malt has become something of a cult favourite among whisky lovers since it made its debut back in 2018. If you love a big, rich Speyside then we can’t recommend this bottling enough.

ABV 46%
Available at The Landing in Nanaimo – Price $126.00

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Jim selection of nibblies to accompany the whiskys was delicious. Cheeses (Brie, Canadian Cheddar and Danish Blue), wonderful Oak-Smoked Atlantic Salmon, pork tenderloin cooked to perfection, grapes and beautiful dark chocolate all complimented the whisky selections.