Glendronach 28 Years Old 1990

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 28 year old, from 1990, cask 7905, at 51.7%, 660 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002. Its water is the Dronac Burn, which also gave the distillery its name. It was the last distillery in Scotland to fire its stills with coal, converting to steam only in 2005. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. Maturation came in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, layered over the full Glendronach make. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make.

At its natural 51.7% it is rich and chewy. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is a rich Highland malt of dried fruit and chocolate.