Glendronach 12 Years Old 2004 Cask #6627

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 12 year old, from 2004, cask 6627, at 58.2%, 664 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt known for its heavy Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry maturation. 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 drawn from a thick, heavy wash, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. A Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. 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. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At a hearty 58.2% it carries real weight. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is a rich Highland malt of dried fruit and chocolate.