Glendronach 16 Years Old 1996

Glendronach from the distillery, a 16 year old, from 1996, cask 1481, at 53.9%, 702 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie. It passed to Brown Forman, owner of Jack Daniel's, in 2016 as part of a 285 million pound deal.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, the wood working deep into the malt. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At 53.9%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a richly sherried Highland single malt.