Glendronach 10 Years Old (Port Wood)

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 10 year old, at 46%. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, founded in 1826 near Huntly in Aberdeenshire. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend. It was the last distillery in Scotland to fire its stills with coal, converting to steam only in 2005.

Distilled to a rich, generous cut, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. After ex-Bourbon maturation it was finished in a Port pipe, the wine working into the spirit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded and full. Fig, walnut and a bittersweet chocolate, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is the sherry led malt of Forgue.