Glendronach 27 Years Old 1994 Cask #7469

A 27 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1994, cask 7469, at 53%, 678 bottles in all. 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.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. An Oloroso sherry puncheon held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. In the oxidative, evaporative years the spirit concentrates to dried fruit, dark chocolate and a waxy, resinous depth. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At 53%, undiluted, it is dark and full. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is a Highland single malt of real standing.