Glendronach 22 Years Old 1970 Cask #546 547 (Signatory)

Signatory Vintage, the Edinburgh house that bottles at Edradour above Pitlochry, bottled this Glendronach, distilled in 1970, from cask 546-547, at 43%, one of 1200 bottles. Glendronach is a Highland single malt known for its heavy Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry maturation. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, for the rich, sherried make Glendronach is known for. It was matured in an Oloroso sherry hogshead, the wood working deep into the malt. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

Reduced to 43%, it is mellow and sweet. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is Glendronach's deep, fruity Highland style.