Glendronach 31 Years Old 1991

A 31 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, from 1991, cask 1106, at 50.9%, 667 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, revived from 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend. By 1862 it had grown into the largest duty paying distillery in the Highlands.

Drawn from a thick, heavy wash, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. Maturation came in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, layered over the full Glendronach make. Ethereal and fragile, the decades draw it to a resinous, waxy depth of dried fruit, treacle and old oak. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make.

At a hearty 50.9% it carries real weight. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a rich Highland malt of dried fruit and chocolate.