Glendronach 29 Years Old 1993 Cask #6343

Glendronach from the distillery, a 29 year old, from 1993, cask 6343, at 54.3%, 664 bottles in all. Glendronach is a rich Highland malt from the Valley of Forgue, near Huntly. The distillery was an early champion of sherry cask maturation, its malt charming Edinburgh society from the start. Its water is the Dronac Burn, which also gave the distillery its name.

It was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. A Pedro Ximenez sherry butt held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At a hearty 54.3% it carries real weight. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is Glendronach's deep, fruity Highland style.