Glendronach 12 Years Old 1964 (Ex-Bourbon)

A 12 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1964, at 43%. Glendronach is a rich Highland malt from the Valley of Forgue, near Huntly. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands.

It was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin and a soft coconut under the malt. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make.

Bottled at 43%, it is rounded and full. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, lifted by a sweet oak. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is a richly sherried Highland single malt.