Glendronach 11 Years Old 2011

This official Glendronach, an 11 year old, from 2011, cask 3126, at 58.2%, 128 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt whose founder was an early champion of sherry cask maturation. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich.

Drawn from a thick, heavy wash, shaping a rich Highland body with real weight. Maturation came in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, layered over the full Glendronach make. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body.

At a natural 58.2% it is full and rich. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is the sherry led malt of Forgue.