Glendronach 31 Years Old Cask #Batch 1

A 31 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, cask Batch 1, at 45.8%, 1013 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. 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 the last distillery in Scotland to fire its stills with coal, converting to steam only in 2005.

The spirit was distilled in copper pot stills, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. It was fully matured in an Oloroso cask, the wood deep in the rich spirit. 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. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

At a natural 45.8% it is full and rich. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is a Highland single malt of real standing.