Glendronach 13 Years Old 2002

A 13 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 2002, cask 4651, at 54.8%, 641 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt known for its heavy Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry maturation. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt. 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 taken gently through wash and spirit stills, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. It was matured in ex-Bourbon oak and finished in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, a layer of Pedro Ximenez over the bourbon vanilla. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the orchard notes deepening to sultana, date and chocolate. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

At a hearty 54.8% it carries real weight. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a Highland single malt of real standing.