Glendronach 17 Years Old 1996 Cask #1490

This official Glendronach, a 17 year old, from 1996, cask 1490, at 53.1%, 709 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, founded in 1826 near Huntly in Aberdeenshire. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. A Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon 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 spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site.

At its natural 53.1% it is rich and chewy. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is the sherry led malt of Forgue.