Glendronach 8 Years Old (Teacher’s)

Glendronach from the distillery, an 8 year old, at 40%. Glendronach is a rich Highland malt from the Valley of Forgue, near Huntly. It was mothballed in 1996 and lay silent until production resumed in 2002. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend.

Run slowly off the spirit still, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the full character to the fore. In these extractive early years the oak gives vanillin as vanilla and lactones as coconut over orchard fruit and a dark sugar. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. Maturation runs slow and even in the traditional dunnage warehouses on the Forgue site.

Reduced to 40%, it is mellow and sweet. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, lifted by a sweet oak. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is the sherry led malt of Forgue.