Glendronach 26 Years Old 1993 Cask #8933 (TWE)

A 26 year old Glendronach from The Whisky Exchange, distilled in 1993, from cask 8933, at 57.2%, one of 696 bottles. Glendronach is a Highland single malt whose founder was an early champion of sherry cask maturation. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit.

Run slowly off the spirit still, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, the wood working deep into the malt. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At a natural 57.2% it is full and rich. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is a deep, sherried Highland single malt.