Glendronach 26 Years Old 1990

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 26 year old, from 1990, cask 2973, at 50.8%, 584 bottles in all. Glendronach is a richly sherried Highland single malt from the Valley of Forgue, built on full bodied spirit and Spanish oak. The distillery was an early champion of sherry cask maturation, its malt charming Edinburgh society from the start. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands.

Distilled to a rich, generous cut, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. It was fully matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, the wood deep in the rich spirit. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend structure while oxidation builds a richer raisin and treacle. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At 50.8%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a richly sherried Highland single malt.