Glendronach 18 Years Old 1992

An 18 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1992, cask 1124, at 58.2%, 561 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. Its water is the Dronac Burn, which also gave the distillery its name.

The spirit was distilled in copper pot stills, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. It was fully matured in an Oloroso sherry butt, the wood deep in the rich spirit. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters and a darker chocolate, fig and date depth. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At a natural 58.2% it is full and rich. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is Glendronach's deep, fruity Highland style.