Glendronach 10 Years Old

Glendronach from the distillery, a 10 year old, at 48%, 3000 bottles in all. Glendronach is a rich Highland malt from the Valley of Forgue, near Huntly. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands.

Run slowly off the spirit still, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. Maturation came in a Pedro Ximenez cask, layered over the full Glendronach make. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

At 48%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is Glendronach's deep, fruity Highland style.