Glendronach 11 Years Old 2003 Cask #4049

This official Glendronach, an 11 year old, from 2003, cask 4049, at 52.6%, 714 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, revived from 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company. The distillery was an early champion of sherry cask maturation, its malt charming Edinburgh society from the start.

Distilled to a rich, generous cut, shaping a rich Highland body with real weight. It was fully matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, the wood deep in the rich spirit. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site.

At a hearty 52.6% it carries real weight. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a richly sherried Highland single malt.