Glendronach 12 Years Old (Traditional)

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 12 year old, at 43%. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, founded in 1826 near Huntly in Aberdeenshire. It passed to Brown Forman, owner of Jack Daniel's, in 2016 as part of a 285 million pound deal. The distillery was an early champion of sherry cask maturation, its malt charming Edinburgh society from the start. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. It was fully matured in an Oloroso cask, the wood deep in the rich spirit. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the orchard notes deepening to sultana, date and chocolate. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body.

At 43% it is rich, fruity and deep. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is Glendronach's deep, fruity Highland style.