Glendronach 30 Years Old 1994 (SMWS 96.42)

A 30 year old Glendronach from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, distilled in 1994, from cask 96.42, at 50.9%, one of 452 bottles. Glendronach is a Highland single malt known for its heavy Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry maturation. The distillery was an early champion of sherry cask maturation, its malt charming Edinburgh society from the start. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich.

The spirit was distilled in copper pot stills, shaping a rich Highland body with real weight. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the fruit. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending maple and dried fig as beeswax and old leather linger. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At a natural 50.9% it is full and rich. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, lifted by a sweet oak. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is the sherry led malt of Forgue.