Glendronach 19 Years Old 1994 Cask #326

A 19 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1994, cask 326, at 53.5%, 452 bottles in all. Glendronach is a richly sherried Highland single malt from the Valley of Forgue, built on full bodied spirit and Spanish oak. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, 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. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters and a darker chocolate, fig and date depth. 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. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At a hearty 53.5% it carries real weight. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a full bodied Highland single malt of real richness.