Glendronach 26 Years Old 1992 Cask #220

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 26 year old, from 1992, cask 220, at 54.7%, a festival cask. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt. It was the last distillery in Scotland to fire its stills with coal, converting to steam only in 2005.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. 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. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site.

At a hearty 54.7% it carries real weight. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a full bodied Highland single malt of real richness.