Glendronach Cask Strength (Batch 3)

A Glendronach, a distillery bottling, at 54.9%. Glendronach is a richly sherried Highland single malt from the Valley of Forgue, built on full bodied spirit and Spanish oak. Its whisky is now overseen by the master blender Dr Rachel Barrie. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend.

Distilled to a rich, generous cut, for a weighty make built to take active Spanish oak. Maturation ran across Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks, layered over the Glendronach spirit. Without an age statement, a dark sugar and dried fruit point to good years in cask. 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. The full bodied spirit takes active wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At a hearty 54.9% it carries real weight. A deep, dark sweetness, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a rich Highland malt of dried fruit and chocolate.