Glendronach 19 Years Old 1993 Cask #487

A 19 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1993, cask 487, at 54.2%, 673 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, founded in 1826 near Huntly in Aberdeenshire. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend.

Drawn from a thick, heavy wash, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. It was fully matured in an Oloroso sherry butt, 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. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At a natural 54.2% it is full and rich. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is a richly sherried Highland single malt.