Glendronach 43 Years Old 1971

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 43 year old, from 1971, cask 2920, at 48.6%, 523 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, long a blending malt and now a sherry led name in its own right. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend. It was bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, a son of the founder of Glenfiddich.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for the rich, sherried make Glendronach is known for. Maturation came in a Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheon, layered over the full Glendronach make. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending maple and dried fig as beeswax and old leather linger. The casks are picked closely, the wood matched to the rich Glendronach make. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

At a natural 48.6% it is full and rich. Fig, walnut and a bittersweet chocolate, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a full bodied Highland single malt of real richness.