Glendronach 19 Years Old 1995 Cask #2380

This official Glendronach, a 19 year old, from 1995, cask 2380, at 55.1%, a festival cask. 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.

The spirit was distilled in copper pot stills, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. An Oloroso sherry butt 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. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

At 55.1%, undiluted, it is dark and full. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a full bodied Highland single malt of real richness.