Glendronach 27 Years Old 1994 Cask #2172

This official Glendronach, a 27 year old, from 1994, cask 2172, at 52.2%. Glendronach is a Highland single malt whose founder was an early champion of sherry cask maturation. It was founded in 1826 by James Allardice, said to be the second man in Scotland to take a licence after the Excise Act of 1823. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, for the rich, sherried make Glendronach is known for. It was matured in an Oloroso sherry puncheon, the wood working deep into the malt. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

At 52.2%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a rich Highland malt of dried fruit and chocolate.