Glendronach 29 Years Old 1989

A 29 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1989, at 50.1%, 3052 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt known for its heavy Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry maturation. 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 was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich. It passed to Brown Forman, owner of Jack Daniel's, in 2016 as part of a 285 million pound deal.

It was drawn from a thick, heavy wash, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. It was matured in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks, each wood adding to the dark, dried fruit. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend structure while oxidation builds a richer raisin and treacle. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At a hearty 50.1% it carries real weight. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is a dark, fruity Highland single malt.