Glendronach 18 Years Old 1970 Cask #542 558 (Signatory)

Signatory Vintage, the Edinburgh house that bottles at Edradour above Pitlochry, bottled this Glendronach, distilled in 1970, from cask 542-558, at 43%. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, revived from 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company. Its water is the Dronac Burn, which also gave the distillery its name. It was the last distillery in Scotland to fire its stills with coal, converting to steam only in 2005.

The spirit was run slowly off the spirit still, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a soft honey over the fruit. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make. 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 43% it is smooth and rich. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, lifted by a sweet oak. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is the sherry led malt of Forgue.