Glendronach 19 Years Old

Glendronach from the distillery, a 19 year old, at 46%, 3111 bottles in all. Glendronach is a deep, dark Highland malt of dried fruit, chocolate and spice. It passed to Brown Forman, owner of Jack Daniel's, in 2016 as part of a 285 million pound deal. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands. Its water is the Dronac Burn, which also gave the distillery its name. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. Ex-Bourbon matured, it was given a finish in a Madeira hogshead for a final sweetness. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters and a darker chocolate, fig and date depth. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

Reduced to 46%, it is mellow and sweet. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with a nutty, raisined sweetness 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 richly sherried Highland single malt.