Glendronach 21 Years Old 1993 Cask #39

A 21 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1993, cask 39, at 58.8%, 567 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002.

Distilled to a rich, generous cut, shaping a rich Highland body with real weight. Maturation came in an Oloroso sherry butt, layered over the full Glendronach make. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters and a darker chocolate, fig and date depth. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At 58.8%, undiluted, it is dark and full. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a richly sherried Highland single malt.