Glendronach 18 Years Old 1976

This official Glendronach, an 18 year old, from 1976, at 43%. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, revived from 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company. 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. The distillery was an early champion of sherry cask maturation, its malt charming Edinburgh society from the start. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002.

Drawn from a thick, heavy wash, shaping a rich Highland body with real weight. An Oloroso cask 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. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At 43% it is rich, fruity and deep. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is the sherry led malt of Forgue.