Glendronach 16 Years Old

Glendronach from the distillery, a 16 year old, at 46%, released for a whisky festival. Glendronach is a deep, dark Highland malt of dried fruit, chocolate and spice. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt. Its water is the Dronac Burn, which also gave the distillery its name. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie.

The spirit was run slowly off the spirit still, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. Maturation ran across Pedro Ximenez, Oloroso and Port casks, layered over the Glendronach spirit. 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. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body.

Reduced to 46%, it is mellow and sweet. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is Glendronach's deep, fruity Highland style.