Glendronach 12 Years Old 2003 Cask #934

This official Glendronach, a 12 year old, from 2003, cask 934, at 53.7%, 714 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt whose founder was an early champion of sherry cask maturation. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt. Its water is the Dronac Burn, which also gave the distillery its name.

Distilled in copper pot stills, shaping a rich Highland body with real weight. After ex-Bourbon maturation it was finished in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, the sherry working into the spirit. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the orchard notes deepening to sultana, date and chocolate. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

Bottled at a cask strength 53.7%, it is deep and concentrated. A rich, sherried sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a richly sherried Highland single malt.