Glendronach 21 Years Old 1991 Cask #5409

This official Glendronach, a 21 year old, from 1991, cask 5409, at 49.8%, 716 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, revived from 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002. It passed to Brown Forman, owner of Jack Daniel's, in 2016 as part of a 285 million pound deal. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. It was fully matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, the wood deep in the rich spirit. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At a natural 49.8% it is full and rich. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a Highland single malt of real standing.