Glendronach 20 Years Old 1993 Cask #3075

Glendronach from the distillery, a 20 year old, from 1993, cask 3075, at 54.7%, 634 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie.

The spirit was distilled in copper pot stills, shaping a rich Highland body with real weight. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, the wood working deep into the malt. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters and a darker chocolate, fig and date depth. 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. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site.

At a natural 54.7% it is full and rich. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is a full bodied Highland single malt of real richness.