Glendronach 14 Years Old 2005 Cask #1930

This official Glendronach, a 14 year old, from 2005, cask 1930, at 60%. Glendronach is a richly sherried Highland single malt from the Valley of Forgue, built on full bodied spirit and Spanish oak. The distillery was an early champion of sherry cask maturation, its malt charming Edinburgh society from the start. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002. It passed to Brown Forman, owner of Jack Daniel's, in 2016 as part of a 285 million pound deal. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. 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 casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make.

At a hearty 60% it carries real weight. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is a full bodied Highland single malt of real richness.