Glendronach 25 Years Old 1992 Cask #83

A 25 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1992, cask 83, at 49.8%, 638 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt whose founder was an early champion of sherry cask maturation. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt.

It was drawn from a thick, heavy wash, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. An Oloroso sherry butt held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend structure while oxidation builds a richer raisin and treacle. 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. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site.

Bottled at a cask strength 49.8%, it is deep and concentrated. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a full bodied Highland single malt of real richness.