Glendronach 18 Years Old 1996 Cask #1487

A distillery release of Glendronach, an 18 year old, from 1996, cask 1487, at 54.1%, 677 bottles in all. Glendronach is a richly sherried Highland single malt from the Valley of Forgue, built on full bodied spirit and Spanish oak. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt.

Run slowly off the spirit still, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. 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 wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make.

At 54.1%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a rich Highland malt of dried fruit and chocolate.