Glendronach 25 Years Old 1993 Cask #5958

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 25 year old, from 1993, cask 5958, at 55.4%, 669 bottles in all. Glendronach is a richly sherried Highland single malt from the Valley of Forgue, built on full bodied spirit and Spanish oak. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt.

Worked unhurried through the stillhouse, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. A Pedro Ximenez cask 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 spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site.

At a hearty 55.4% it carries real weight. A rich, sherried sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a Highland single malt of real standing.