Glendronach Cask Strength (Batch 4)

This official Glendronach, at 54.7%, 17806 bottles in all. Glendronach is a Highland single malt whose founder was an early champion of sherry cask maturation. It joined William Teacher and Sons in 1960 and became a core malt of the Teacher's blend. It ferments in Oregon pine washbacks over long fermentations for a full, fruity spirit. It was bought in 2008 by Billy Walker's BenRiach company, who rebuilt it as a heavily sherried single malt.

It was distilled to a rich, generous cut, shaping a rich Highland body with real weight. Maturation ran across Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks, layered over the Glendronach spirit. Carrying no age, soft vanillin and dried fruit suggest a fair spell in active oak. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

Bottled at a cask strength 54.7%, it is deep and concentrated. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is a rich Highland malt of dried fruit and chocolate.