Glendronach 20 Years Old 1994 Cask #1103

A 20 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1994, cask 1103, at 55.6%, 580 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt known for its heavy Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry maturation. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit.

It was drawn from a thick, heavy wash, shaping a rich Highland body with real weight. It was matured in an Oloroso sherry puncheon, the wood working deep into the malt. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At 55.6%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A deep, dark sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is the sherry led malt of Forgue.