Glendronach 25 Years Old Cask #Batch 8

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 25 year old, cask Batch 8, at 50.3%, 1505 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, founded in 1826 near Huntly in Aberdeenshire. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. It was fully matured in an Oloroso cask, the wood deep in the rich spirit. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend structure while oxidation builds a richer raisin and treacle. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At 50.3%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A rich, sherried sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is the sherry led malt of Forgue.