Glendronach 19 year old – 1995

Glendronach

Founded in 1826 by a consortium including James Allardice in Forgue, Aberdeenshire and was only the second distillery to apply for a license to legally produce alcohol under the 1823 Excise Act..

Part of the distillery was destroyed by fire in 1837 and in 1852 Walter Scott takes control of the distillery but dies in 1887 when another consortium from Leith takes control.

Charles Grant then buys the distillery In 1920 for the sum of £9000 before selling it on in 1960 to William Teacher and sons.

The distillery is unfortunately mothballed in 1996 and stays silent until the 14th of May when owners Allied Distillers start production once again.

Closed for re furnishing ( changes from coal to steam heating ) in 2005 when Chivas Brothers take over but is soon sold again in 2008 when The Benriach Distillery Company Ltd takes control.

Brown Forman takes control in 2016 and soon brings in Rachel Barrie as Master blender for Glendronach, Benriach and Glenglassaugh.

Glendronach Single Cask #4943

Distillery.. Glendronach

Region.. Highlands

Distilled.. 1-11-1995

Bottled.. 9-2015

Age.. 19 years old

Abv.. 56.9%

Cask.. Oloroso Sherry Puncheon

Outturn.. 633 bottles

Nose.. Instantly those big dried fruit notes of Dates, sultanas and raisins rise from the glass along with plum and a delicate hint of fig. Rich coffee notes mix with dark chocolate and a Black Forest gateau note, candied orange, vanilla,  a little liquorice and old leather gives you plenty to think about.

Palate.. The nose carries right into the palate with those dried fruits dominating along with a sweetness that decends into a drying earthy note towards the end.

Finish.. Drying with soft spices and an earthy sweetness.

Thoughts.. It’s Glendronach and I love it.. It seems so long since I had a big sherry bomb in my glass in order to review and once again it just happens to be a Glendronach.. Which is no surprise really as they do Release so many big heavily sherried single casks and that’s just what is appealing to my palate these days..

This single cask is a UK exclusive and was bought a couple of years back but it has sat on the shelf shouting to be looked at for quite some time but thankfully I gave in on this miserable damp February afternoon..

I often talk about a whisky taking you on a journey and these Glendronach single casks seem to have a knack of doing that, they allow you to sit back and just forget about everything that is getting you down, they transport you away for a few moments but they make it feel like an eternity, any whisky that can do that deserves a place on my shelf..