Meikle Tòir: The Peated Counterpart to The GlenAllachie (Review)

The GlenAllachie Distillery is famed for its unpeated whiskies, yet they also work with peated spirit. How that comes together and tastes can be found in this Meikle Tòir Peated Single Malt whisky review.

In addition to its classic The GlenAllachie whiskies, the Speyside-based GlenAllachie Distillery has set out in search of the perfectly peated Speyside malt. The name of the range is Meikle Tòir, loosely translated as “The Great Pursuit.”

Billy Walker and his team, under the Meikle Tòir banner, aim to craft a Speyside whisky peated in the most fitting way. For six weeks each year they distill using peated barley.

Specifically, Meikle Tòir is made with Speyside malt that’s smoked over Highland peat. This isn’t coastal peat, but peat from further inland. Using this style of peat brings earthy, smoky tones into the malt.

Thanks to an extended fermentation of no less than 160 hours, a wealth of fruity esters develop. After distillation, the result is a whisky that’s not only smoky but also notably fruit-forward.

The bottle of Meikle Tòir whisky carries an elegant label. For The Original 5 Year Old it’s a green label with gold accents, while the other Meikle Tòir expressions each wear their own colour (blue, red and orange).

Alongside the striking colour, the label and box feature an intricate illustration picked out in gold accents. It depicts the landscape around The GlenAllachie Distillery with the layers of peat beneath the ground.

The box sides tell the whisky’s story and its tasting notes. One bolded line stands out, reaffirming the brand’s mission: “Peated Perfection.”

Has that mission succeeded? Time to taste.

Swirl the glass of golden nectar and clear notes of peat rise up. While the peat is present, stronger aromas of mocha, warm milk, honey, vanilla and a floral touch soon take the lead.

The peat forms part of a broader flavour tapestry where everything stays in balance and no single aroma dominates. The longer you nose it, the sweeter it becomes.

On the palate, Meikle Tòir is supple, quickly warming your mouth. There’s a gentle ashy note with hints of campfire. The whisky’s smoky character is clear, yet never overbearing.

You’ll also find coconut, caramel, a touch of citrus and fruit notes like green apple. Every so often, a hint of ginger peeks through.

Towards the finish, the sweetness recedes, giving the peat one last moment to shine. It bows out with smoke and spice.

Meikle Tòir is a well-crafted peated whisky that isn’t excessively smoky, yet is unmistakably made from peated malt. It balances a handful of sweet flavours with the smoke, resulting in an intriguing character.

+ A well-balanced play of flavours

+ Not overly smoky

+ Well-priced whisky

- Skip it if smoke isn’t your thing