Glendronach 25 Years Old Cask #Batch 7

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 25 year old, cask Batch 7, at 50.6%, 1180 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt known for its heavy Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry maturation. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt. The distillery was an early champion of sherry cask maturation, its malt charming Edinburgh society from the start.

Run slowly off the spirit still, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. It was matured in an Oloroso sherry butt, the wood working deep into the malt. 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. 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.

At a natural 50.6% it is full and rich. A deep, dark sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a rich Highland malt of dried fruit and chocolate.