Glendronach 12 Years Old

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 12 year old, at 43%. Glendronach is a Highland single malt known for its heavy Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry maturation. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit.

The spirit was distilled to a rich, generous cut, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. It was matured in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks, each wood adding to the dark, dried fruit. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the orchard notes deepening to sultana, date and chocolate. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

Reduced to 43%, it is mellow and sweet. Fig, walnut and a bittersweet chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a full bodied Highland single malt of real richness.