Glendronach 21 Years Old 1992 Cask #195

A 21 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1992, cask 195, at 59.8%, 566 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, founded in 1826 near Huntly in Aberdeenshire. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit. It was the last distillery in Scotland to fire its stills with coal, converting to steam only in 2005.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for the rich, sherried make Glendronach is known for. It was matured in an Oloroso sherry butt, the wood working deep into the malt. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters and a darker chocolate, fig and date depth. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At its natural 59.8% it is rich and chewy. A rich, sherried sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is a dark, fruity Highland single malt.