Glendronach 19 Years Old 1994 Cask #101

A 19 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1994, cask 101, at 58.4%, 628 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, revived from 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company. Its water is the Dronac Burn, which also gave the distillery its name. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. 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. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At a hearty 58.4% it carries real weight. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is the sherry led malt of Forgue.