Glendronach 19 Years Old 1995 Cask #4037 (LMDW)

La Maison du Whisky bottled this Glendronach, a 19 year old, distilled in 1995, from cask 4037, at 55.9%, bottled for a whisky festival. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, revived from 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company. The distillery was an early champion of sherry cask maturation, its malt charming Edinburgh society from the start. It was the last distillery in Scotland to fire its stills with coal, converting to steam only in 2005. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. Maturation came in a Pedro Ximenez cask, layered over the full Glendronach make. At oxidative maturity aldehydes lend a nutty edge while ellagitannins draw a drying, structured grip across the fruit. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At a hearty 55.9% it carries real weight. A rich, sherried sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is Glendronach's deep, fruity Highland style.