Glendronach Peated

A distillery release of Glendronach, at 46%. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, here in peated form, a sweet smoke laid over the sherry. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend.

Drawn from a thick, peated, heavy wash, building a malt of dark fruit and a soft, oaky smoke. It was matured in ex-Bourbon oak and Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks, the woods layered through the rich spirit. Carrying no age, soft vanillin and dried fruit suggest a fair spell in active oak. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded and full. Soft smoke, honey and a dark chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Soft smoke and a treacle sit behind the spice. A long finish carries peat, chocolate and a treacle. This is a rich, smoky Highland malt of dark fruit.