Glendronach 25 Years Old 1955

A 25 year old Glendronach from Gordon and MacPhail, distilled in 1955, at 40%. Glendronach is a deep, dark Highland malt of dried fruit, chocolate and spice. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin and a soft coconut under the malt. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend structure while oxidation builds a richer raisin and treacle. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

Bottled at 40%, it is rounded and full. A deep, dark sweetness, lifted by a sweet oak. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a full bodied Highland single malt of real richness.