Glendronach 23 Years Old 1994 Cask #126 (Whisky.de)

A Glendronach of a 23 year old chosen by Whisky.de, distilled in 1994, from cask 126, at 54.1%, one of 712 bottles. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. The distillery was an early champion of sherry cask maturation, its malt charming Edinburgh society from the start.

The spirit was taken gently through wash and spirit 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. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make.

At 54.1%, undiluted, it is dark and full. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle 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 rich Highland malt of dried fruit and chocolate.