Glendronach 20 Years Old 1990 Cask #3068

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 20 year old, from 1990, cask 3068, at 52.6%, 750 bottles in all. Glendronach is a rich Highland malt from the Valley of Forgue, near Huntly. The distillery was an early champion of sherry cask maturation, its malt charming Edinburgh society from the start. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. A Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At its natural 52.6% it is rich and chewy. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a dark, fruity Highland single malt.