Glendronach 17 Years Old 1996 Cask #1479

This official Glendronach, a 17 year old, from 1996, cask 1479, at 53.4%, 706 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, founded in 1826 near Huntly in Aberdeenshire. 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 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, the wood working deep into the malt. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters and a darker chocolate, fig and date depth. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make.

At its natural 53.4% it is rich and chewy. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is Glendronach's deep, fruity Highland style.