Glendronach 47 Years Old 1968

A distillery release of Glendronach, a 47 year old, from 1968, cask 5837, at 45.9%, 301 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt, revived from 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, giving a deep, full bodied Highland spirit. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry hogshead, the wood working deep into the malt. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending maple and dried fig as beeswax and old leather linger. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At 45.9%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A rich, sherried sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is a richly sherried Highland single malt.