Glendronach 19 Years Old 1995 Cask #4034

Glendronach from the distillery, a 19 year old, from 1995, cask 4034, at 55.4%, 683 bottles in all. Glendronach is a deep, dark Highland malt of dried fruit, chocolate and spice. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002.

Drawn from a thick, heavy wash, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, the wood working deep into the malt. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters and a darker chocolate, fig and date depth. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site.

At a hearty 55.4% it carries real weight. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a richly sherried Highland single malt.