Glendronach 26 Years Old 1994 Cask #7467

A 26 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1994, cask 7467, at 51.4%, 686 bottles in all. 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. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. Maturation came in an Oloroso sherry puncheon, layered over the full Glendronach make. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend structure while oxidation builds a richer raisin and treacle. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make.

At a hearty 51.4% 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 richly sherried Highland single malt.