Glendronach 13 Years Old 2004

A 13 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 2004, cask 3342, at 55.4%, 643 bottles in all. Glendronach is a rich Highland malt from the Valley of Forgue, near Huntly. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. It was fully matured in a Port pipe, the wood deep in the rich spirit. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the orchard notes deepening to sultana, date and chocolate. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site.

Bottled at a cask strength 55.4%, it is deep and concentrated. Fig, walnut and a bittersweet chocolate, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a full bodied Highland single malt of real richness.