Glendronach 19 Years Old 1994 Cask #3397

A 19 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1994, cask 3397, at 53.8%, 644 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, revived from 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit. It was founded in 1826 by James Allardice, said to be the second man in Scotland to take a licence after the Excise Act of 1823.

It was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, the wood working deep into the malt. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

At 53.8%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a dark, fruity Highland single malt.