Glendronach 10 Years Old (Denmark Exclusive)

A 10 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, at 46%, 2400 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, founded in 1826 near Huntly in Aberdeenshire. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit. Its water is the Dronac Burn, which also gave the distillery its name. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich. It was the last distillery in Scotland to fire its stills with coal, converting to steam only in 2005.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. It was matured in ex-Bourbon oak and a Tawny Port cask, the wine over a soft vanilla. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

Reduced to 46%, it is mellow and sweet. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with a nutty, raisined red fruit from the cask. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is Glendronach's deep, fruity Highland style.