Glendronach 21 Years Old 1991 Cask #5405

This official Glendronach, a 21 year old, from 1991, cask 5405, at 49.9%, 702 bottles in all. Glendronach is a rich Highland malt from the Valley of Forgue, near Huntly. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend. The distillery was an early champion of sherry cask maturation, its malt charming Edinburgh society from the start.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez 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. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At 49.9%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is Glendronach's deep, fruity Highland style.