Glendronach 16 Years Old 1993 Cask #527 (Whisky Tales)

Whisky Tales bottled this Glendronach, a 16 year old, distilled in 1993, from cask 527, at 61.5%, one of 240 bottles. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, revived from 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands. 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.

The spirit was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. An Oloroso cask held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters and a darker chocolate, fig and date depth. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

At a natural 61.5% it is full and rich. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a dark, fruity Highland single malt.