Glendronach 8 Years Old

An 8 year old Glendronach, a distillery bottling, at 43%. Glendronach is a richly sherried Highland single malt from the Valley of Forgue, built on full bodied spirit and Spanish oak. Its water is the Dronac Burn, which also gave the distillery its name.

The spirit was distilled to a rich, generous cut, for a weighty, full spirit the sherry casks then deepen. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the full character to the fore. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin and toasted sugars over the full, fruity spirit. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Highland body. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Active first fill sherry wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At an approachable 43% it is soft and fruity. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, lifted by a sweet oak. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a deep, sherried Highland single malt.