Glendronach 18 Years Old 1991 Cask #3182

An 18 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1991, cask 3182, at 51.7%, 633 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt whose founder was an early champion of sherry cask maturation. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit. It passed to Brown Forman, owner of Jack Daniel's, in 2016 as part of a 285 million pound deal. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich.

It was drawn from a thick, heavy wash, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. It was fully matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, the wood deep in the rich spirit. At oxidative maturity aldehydes lend a nutty edge while ellagitannins draw a drying, structured grip across the fruit. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site.

At a natural 51.7% it is full and rich. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is Glendronach's deep, fruity Highland style.