Glendronach 1994 Octaves

A 20 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1994, at 48%, 371 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. It passed to Brown Forman, owner of Jack Daniel's, in 2016 as part of a 285 million pound deal.

It was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. It was matured in ex-Bourbon oak and finished in a Pedro Ximenez sherry octave, a layer of Pedro Ximenez over the bourbon vanilla. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body.

At its natural 48% it is rich and chewy. 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. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is Glendronach's deep, fruity Highland style.