Independent Scotch whisky distillery, The GlenAllachie, has revealed its new peated single malt Scotch whisky brand, Meikle Tòir (pronounced mee-kuhl tor).
Spearheaded by Master Distiller Billy Walker, The GlenAllachie Distillery, which surpassed £20 million in sales for the first time last year, has won countless awards, including the World’s Best Single Malt title (World Whiskies Awards, 2021). The launch introduces Walker’s first core releases to have been fully overseen by him since he took ownership of the 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 and uses mainland peat from St. Fergus with peated production runs of around six weeks per year, producing approximately 100,000 Litres of Alcohol annually.
The peated label’s core range consists of The Original (50% ABV), The Sherry One (48% ABV) and The Chinquapin One (48% ABV), as well as annual small-batch release, The Turbo 2023 Edition (50% ABV). Each whisky carries a five-year age statement.
All Meikle Tòir expressions were subjected to a lengthy fermentation time of 160 hours – nearly triple the industry average – which adds a fruity, ester-rich character to the subsequent whisky.
The launch will be supported by a series of tastings across Scotland this week, both at barrel-top sampling events in retail stores and invite-only drinks evenings, concluding in Meikle Tòir’s presence at The Whisky Exchange Show in London at the weekend.
Walker said, “This incredibly exciting launch is a key milestone for us all at The GlenAllachie. Five years in the making, it represents the culmination of our endeavours since we took over the reins at the distillery. Our intention has always been to release a peated single malt, and this is no surprise to those who have followed our journey from the start.
“Every element of the production process was carefully considered to ensure our vision was met. It’s not about accelerating the journey; it’s about expanding the experience. 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”.
Meikle Tòir will become increasingly available worldwide from today, with UK RRSPs starting at £50.