Glendronach 14 Years Old 2005 Cask #1928

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 14 year old, from 2005, cask 1928, at 58%, 612 bottles in all. Glendronach is a rich Highland malt from the Valley of Forgue, near Huntly. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002. It passed to Brown Forman, owner of Jack Daniel's, in 2016 as part of a 285 million pound deal. It was founded in 1826 by James Allardice, said to be the second man in Scotland to take a licence after the Excise Act of 1823.

The spirit was distilled in copper pot stills, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, the wood working deep into the malt. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make.

At a natural 58% it is full and rich. A rich, sherried sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a rich Highland malt of dried fruit and chocolate.