Glendronach 24 Years Old 1993 Cask #400

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 24 year old, from 1993, cask 400, at 53.6%. Glendronach is a deep, dark Highland malt of dried fruit, chocolate and spice. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich. Its water is the Dronac Burn, which also gave the distillery its name. It passed to Brown Forman, owner of Jack Daniel's, in 2016 as part of a 285 million pound deal.

The spirit was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. Maturation came in an Oloroso sherry butt, layered over the full Glendronach make. In the oxidative, evaporative years the spirit concentrates to dried fruit, dark chocolate and a waxy, resinous depth. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At its natural 53.6% it is rich and chewy. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a dark, fruity Highland single malt.