GlenAllachie Virgin Oak Series 10 Year Old Chinquapin Oak Finish Scotch Whisky
The GlenAllachie Virgin Oak Series 10 Year Old Chinquapin Oak Finish is a 96-proof (48% ABV) single malt Scotch whisky finished for 18 months in virgin casks of chinquapin oak — a rare Missouri white-oak subspecies — bottled without chill filtration or added color. Matured initially in ex-bourbon American oak, then rested in air-dried, medium-toasted chinquapin casks, it is Batch 2 of Master Distiller Billy Walker's Virgin Oak Series and a study in what unusual wood can do. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 48% (96 proof)
- Size: 700mL
- Age: 10 years; ex-bourbon maturation plus 18-month chinquapin virgin-oak finish
- Origin: The GlenAllachie Distillery, Speyside, Scotland
- Production: Batch 2 of the Virgin Oak Series; chinquapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) from Missouri's Northern Ozarks, air-dried nearly 4 years, medium toast; natural color, non-chill-filtered
Billy Walker's Wood Experiment
Since taking the helm at GlenAllachie in 2017, Billy Walker has made wood management the distillery's signature — and the Virgin Oak Series is its boldest showcase. Chinquapin oak is a subspecies of Quercus alba prized for delivering spicy, aromatic character; casks from Missouri's Northern Ozark region, air-dried for almost four years before toasting, give this malt its zesty signature. It sits alongside the rest of the GlenAllachie range — including the sherry-forward Cask Strength batches in our single malt Scotch collection.
Tasting Notes
Rich bronze in the glass. The nose bursts with orange zest, heather honey, and pecan, with butterscotch, nutmeg, and liquorice. The palate is complex and zesty — lashings of cinnamon, barley sugar, and toasted biscuits, followed by rose hips, orange peel, and heather honey.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a few drops of water to open the spice. Its citrus-and-cinnamon profile makes it a natural with smoked honey pairings — try it alongside candied pecans or a dark-chocolate tart for dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is chinquapin oak?
Chinquapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) is a subspecies of American white oak from Missouri's Ozark region; its tighter, spicier wood character gives this whisky its distinctive zesty profile.
Is GlenAllachie Chinquapin chill-filtered?
No — it is bottled at 48% ABV with natural color and no chill filtration, preserving the full texture from the cask.
What is the Virgin Oak Series?
A limited GlenAllachie series where 10-year-old malt gets an extended finish in rare virgin oak types; the Chinquapin edition is Batch 2.
For a Speyside malt finished in oak almost nobody else uses, order the GlenAllachie Chinquapin 10 Year online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.