Glendronach 20 Years Old 1994 Cask #3200

A 20 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1994, cask 3200, at 58.1%. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, revived from 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company. It was the last distillery in Scotland to fire its stills with coal, converting to steam only in 2005. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands. It passed to Brown Forman, owner of Jack Daniel's, in 2016 as part of a 285 million pound deal.

Distilled in copper pot stills, for the rich, sherried make Glendronach is known for. It was matured in an Oloroso 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 spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At its natural 58.1% it is rich and chewy. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a Highland single malt of real standing.