Glendronach 25 Years Old 1992 (Vintage Bottling)

A 25 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1992, at 48%, 1500 bottles in all. Glendronach is a rich Highland malt from the Valley of Forgue, near Huntly. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend. It was the last distillery in Scotland to fire its stills with coal, converting to steam only in 2005. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. It was matured in an Oloroso cask, the wood working deep into the malt. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At 48%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A deep, dark sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is the sherry led malt of Forgue.