Glendronach 12 Years Old 2003 Cask #4081

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 12 year old, from 2003, cask 4081, at 55.8%, 348 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. 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. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie.

Distilled in copper pot stills, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. Maturation came in an Oloroso sherry puncheon, layered over the full Glendronach make. By the integrating teens the raw notes fade and esters build, the rich spirit growing rounder and darker. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

Bottled at a cask strength 55.8%, it is deep and concentrated. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is Glendronach's deep, fruity Highland style.