Glendronach 21 Years Old 1994 Cask #45

Glendronach from the distillery, a 21 year old, from 1994, cask 45, at 56.3%, 694 bottles in all. Glendronach is a rich Highland malt from the Valley of Forgue, near Huntly. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002. It was founded in 1826 by James Allardice, said to be the second man in Scotland to take a licence after the Excise Act of 1823.

Worked unhurried through the stillhouse, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. A Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. 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. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

At its natural 56.3% it is rich and chewy. A rich, sherried sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is a full bodied Highland single malt of real richness.