Glendronach 20 Years Old 1995 Cask #1765

This official Glendronach, a 20 year old, from 1995, cask 1765, at 53.9%, 624 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt whose founder was an early champion of sherry cask maturation. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit. It passed to Brown Forman, owner of Jack Daniel's, in 2016 as part of a 285 million pound deal. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend.

The spirit was run slowly off the spirit still, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. 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.

At its natural 53.9% it is rich and chewy. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a rich Highland malt of dried fruit and chocolate.