The 10-year-old limited edition is the first globally released Scotch matured in elusive Mongolian virgin oak.
The GlenAllachie Distillery today, Thursday 10th September, introduced the fourth chapter in its Sinteis Series – a 2015 Mongolian Virgin Oak, Pedro Ximénez & Oloroso Sherry Cask Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This 10-year-old limited edition marks the first Scotch whisky matured in elusive Mongolian virgin oak to be bottled for global release, reflecting the distillery’s approach to wood mastery and the continued evolution of the Sinteis Series.
‘Sinteis’, meaning ‘synthesis’ in Scottish Gaelic, captures the essence of The GlenAllachie’s cask innovation, uniting virgin oak with sherry casks to create distinctive expressions. While previous expressions in the series explored a dual cask approach, Sinteis Part IV was initially matured in bourbon barrels before spending time separately in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks. The whiskies were then combined and transferred to rare Mongolian virgin oak casks.
Mongolian virgin oak casks, crafted from Quercus Mongolica, are hard to source and largely unexplored in Scotch whisky due to their unforgiving character and scarcity. This wood type, sourced from the forests of East Asia, is noted for its tight grain structure and remarkable density, revealing rich caramel, subtle sandalwood, and oriental incense nuances.
Sinteis Part IV showcases harmony with the two types of sherry casks: Oloroso infuses the whisky with layers of dried fruit, dark chocolate, and nutty complexity, while Pedro Ximénez brings sweet toffee and treacle. The final whisky reveals dark chocolate, layered orchard fruits, and warm pastries, celebrating each cask’s distinct character converging perfectly into one.
Commenting on the new release, Master Distiller Billy Walker said: “The Sinteis series has allowed us to explore the interaction between different virgin oak and sherry casks. The series has explored dual-cask maturation in considerable depth already so for Sinteis Part IV I wanted to invite a pivoted approach that would be both a challenge and an adventure.” Mr Walker added: “We work intensively with Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, so moving the liquid into Mongolian virgin oak was certainly an exciting challenge. The wood’s unforgiving nature and rarity in whisky-making meant we had little precedent to work from. As a team, we trusted in our instinct and experience, and I’m exceptionally proud of the whisky we’ve created and to be able to showcase the beautiful character of Mongolian oak.”
Sinteis Part IV is bottled at a cask strength of 58.5%, with natural colour and without chill filtration, preserving the full character and integrity of cask maturation. Each release in the Sinteis Series is a limited-edition bottling. The bespoke packaging features a hand-drawn motif inspired by Quercus Mongolica, united by an endless knot based on geometric ornamentation found throughout traditional East Asian art, reflecting the relationship between wood, whisky, and time.
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The GlenAllachie Sinteis Part IV, 2015 Mongolian Virgin Oak, Pedro Ximénez & Oloroso Sherry Cask Matured, is available with a UK RRP of £75.99 from The GlenAllachie Distillery and online at www.theglenallachie.com from September 10. It will become available globally in the coming weeks.
Since re-emerging under independent ownership in 2017, The GlenAllachie Distillery chose to reduce its production capacity from four million to around one million litres of alcohol and increase its fermentation period to 160 hours. The distillery also maintains a strong focus on sustainability, with a Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) system installed to capture and recycle waste heat from distillation.
