Glendronach 21 Years Old 1994 Cask #3213

This official Glendronach, a 21 year old, from 1994, cask 3213, at 54.3%, 675 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, revived from 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich. 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, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. Maturation came in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, layered over the full Glendronach make. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters and a darker chocolate, fig and date depth. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make.

At 54.3%, undiluted, it is dark and full. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is a rich Highland malt of dried fruit and chocolate.