Glendronach 12 Years Old 2007 Cask #6769

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 12 year old, from 2007, cask 6769, at 60.9%, 674 bottles in all. Glendronach is a richly sherried Highland single malt from the Valley of Forgue, built on full bodied spirit and Spanish oak. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands. It was founded in 1826 by James Allardice, said to be the second man in Scotland to take a licence after the Excise Act of 1823.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, shaping a rich Highland body with real weight. Maturation came in a Pedro Ximenez 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 full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site.

At a hearty 60.9% it carries real weight. A rich, sherried sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a full bodied Highland single malt of real richness.