The GlenAllachie Distillery Debuts New Peated Whisky Brand Meikle Tòir
The GlenAllachie Distillery has unveiled its new peated single malt Scotch whisky brand: Meikle Tòir (pronounced mee-kuhl tor).
The launch introduces Master Distiller Billy Walker’s first core releases to have been fully overseen by him since he took ownership of The GlenAllachie 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 Meikle Tòir core range consists of The Original, The Sherry One, and The Chinquapin One, as well as annual small-batch limited release, The Turbo. All expressions were subjected to a lengthy fermentation time of 160 hours – nearly triple the industry average – which The GlenAllachie Distillery claims adds a fruity, ester-rich character to the spirit. Each whisky carries a five-year age statement and is bottled without chill filtration or added coloring.
Meikle Tòir The Original 5 Year Old
Aged in first-fill Bourbon barrels, American virgin oak casks, and Rye barrels, Meikle Tòir The Original has a spirit PPM (Parts Per Million) level of 35 and is bottled at 50% ABV. It’s described as having aromas of “baking spices, burnt honey and roasted coffee beans, leading to hazelnuts, smoked almonds and butterscotch.” The palate exhibits “wisps of sweet peat, with rich chocolate and heather honey, followed by cinnamon, ginger and oak-smoked sugar.” UK RRSP £51.
Meikle Tòir The Sherry One 5 Year Old
Initially matured in American oak, followed by additional maturation in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry puncheons, Meikle Tòir The Sherry One has a spirit PPM level of 35 and is bottled at 48% ABV. It’s described as having aromas of “cedarwood and cigar box, alongside butterscotch, mocha and orange peel, with hints of honey and plum jam.” The palate exhibits notes of “rich dark chocolate, smoked honey and mocha, followed by fig syrup, treacle and burnt sugar, with puffs of peat smoke on the finish.” UK RRSP £50.
Meikle Tòir The Chinquapin One 5 Year Old
Initially matured in American oak, then transferred into Chinquapin virgin oak barrels, Meikle Tòir The Chinquapin One has a spirit PPM level of 35 and is bottled at 48% ABV. It’s described as having aromas of “smouldering oak embers, burnt liquorice and honeycomb, with wild heather, ginger, butterscotch and orange peel.” The palate exhibits notes of “dark chocolate, crème brûlée and toasted almonds, leading to cinnamon, brittle toffee, aniseed and lingering campfire smoke.” UK RRSP £50.
Meikle Tòir The Turbo 5 Year Old (2023 Edition)
Matured in three American virgin oak casks and five Oloroso Sherry hogsheads, Meikle Tòir The Turbo 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, has a spirit PPM level of 71 and is bottled at 50% ABV. It’s described as having aromas of “manuka honey, worn leather and rich chocolate, with hints of toasted hazelnuts, dried sultanas and burnt orange peel.” The palate exhibits notes of “intense peat, heather honey and mocha, followed by smoked spices, roasted chestnuts and charred oak.” UK RRSP £51.
The Meikle Tòir 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.
The Meikle Tòir core range is available worldwide beginning today.
Source: The GlenAllachie.