Glendronach 21 Years Old 1994 Cask #276

A 21 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1994, cask 276, at 54.1%, 431 bottles in all. Glendronach is a richly sherried Highland single malt from the Valley of Forgue, built on full bodied spirit and Spanish oak. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez cask, the wood working deep into the malt. At oxidative maturity aldehydes lend a nutty edge while ellagitannins draw a drying, structured grip across the fruit. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At a hearty 54.1% it carries real weight. 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 a deep, sherried Highland single malt.