Glendronach 14 Years Old (Virgin Oak Finish)

Glendronach from the distillery, a 14 year old, at 46%, 5760 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, founded in 1826 near Huntly in Aberdeenshire. The distillery was an early champion of sherry cask maturation, its malt charming Edinburgh society from the start. Its water is the Dronac Burn, which also gave the distillery its name.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. After ex-Bourbon maturation it was finished in a Virgin Oak cask, the wine working into the spirit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make.

At 46% it is smooth and rich. A rich, sherried sweetness, with a vanilla, coconut and a sweet spice from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a full bodied Highland single malt of real richness.