Glendronach 26 Years Old 1993 Cask #7403

Glendronach from the distillery, a 26 year old, from 1993, cask 7403, at 53%, 685 bottles in all. Glendronach is a rich Highland malt from the Valley of Forgue, near Huntly. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich.

Run slowly off the spirit still, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. It was fully matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry butt, the wood deep in the rich spirit. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At a hearty 53% it carries real weight. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is a Highland single malt of real standing.