Glendronach 26 Years Old 1992 Cask #8318

Glendronach from the distillery, a 26 year old, from 1992, cask 8318, at 50.8%, 233 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, founded in 1826 near Huntly in Aberdeenshire. Its water is the Dronac Burn, which also gave the distillery its name. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. It was fully matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, the wood deep in the rich spirit. In the oxidative, evaporative years the spirit concentrates to dried fruit, dark chocolate and a waxy, resinous depth. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At a hearty 50.8% it carries real weight. A rich, sherried sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is a rich Highland malt of dried fruit and chocolate.