GlenDronach Forgue 10 Year

The nose begins with freshly pressed red berries and a whisper of grape must. There's toffee and some spicy oak, with a slight spark from the alcohol. The warmer notes mellowed as it sat, and the harshness faded over time. The palate starts boldly with orange slices and zest, vine-ripened raspberries, and grape, showing sherry cask influences. It's a more subdued version of the typical GlenDronach. Apple peel and maple syrup appeared later in the bottle, as this young spirit truly improved with oxidation. A dusty oak presence was always there, along with an oily mouthfeel, and this was the only drawback noted on the tongue and into the finish. The finish continues with orange flavors, combined with more toffee and nutmeg spice. The lingering, medium finish concludes with an excellent gingersnap cookie taste. Overall, it was much better than anticipated. The absence of 2 years doesn't detract from this whiskey compared to my memory of the 12-year-old. The price isn't great, but you get a bit more liquid, so it's a compromise. It remains a trap for travelers and collectors due to limited availability, encouraging obsessive fans to pursue it excessively. For casual GlenDronach drinkers, the 12-year-old is likely sufficient, but enthusiasts should consider this one. 3.75 stars, with a quarter point reduction due to the cost and difficulty in acquiring a bottle. Cheers.

It's happened: Glendronach is releasing travel retail exclusives. So, I can no longer claim this as my niche whisky, but I can certainly maintain my view that Glendronach crafts the finest whisky available. I'm a dedicated fan, and quite protective. Therefore, I was a bit worried when they released this, fearing the quality would be poor and it would be the start of ruining my favorite distillery. I was wrong. This 10-year-old expression, named Forgue after the village where the distillery is located, is a skillfully made whisky that you can purchase without hesitation. It's bottled at 43% ABV and has a tawny color. On the nose: dark chocolate, plums, vanilla powder; certain citrus notes like oranges, grapes, and candied fruits. Vanilla cookies, hazelnut. There's a general sweetness without any alcohol smell. After the first taste, maraschino cherries appear. Excellent. On the palate, it's very tropical, unlike any other Glendronach. Spicy, orange juice, pineapple, and tropical fruits. The finish is great. Tobacco notes; bitter. Burnt dry grass, a lovely, satisfying end. You can even detect a hint of smoke. Overall, this is a fantastic whisky for $60, considering its age. It's a good introduction to travel retail exclusives from this distillery. 89 out of 100.

I received this from my good friend. Thanks for the sample. So... my friend's tasting notes on this are accurate. There's nothing objectionable about this, and nothing that will astound you. It's a solid, straightforward, everyday drink. Light in color—like gold. Perhaps it was in 2nd fill casks? A faint aroma of roasted nuts. It suggests sherry... which isn't surprising for a Glendronach. Straightforward vanilla, some oak, and shortbread on the palate. It's uncomplicated and one-dimensional—and that's perfectly fine. It can compete with a Balvenie 12 and might even be superior to a Macallan 12. However, the drawback is the price. Nearly $70 is premium territory—and at that cost, you can find much better options (Kilkerran 12, Ardbeg 10, Laphroaig 10). This leads me to believe it's exclusively aimed at devoted Glendronach fans. The rest of us—move along, you can get better for the same price.

The nose offers grapes, prunes, and baking spices, mixed with porridge, cantaloupe, and faint sulfur notes. The fruity arrival presents canned peaches, oranges, and ginger, but a sharp, spirituous undertone is ever-present. Dried fruits, almonds, and a hint of IPA fade in the hot finish. This malt was not mature enough, so one must question the value of investing in a disappointing product. RATING: 3.0/5.0 stars ≙ 79 pts → AVERAGE

An improvement over The Glendronach 12 y.o. Both were finished in Pedro Ximenez. A very smooth nose with notes of cocoa/hot chocolate and hints of spice. Toffee and dried fruits on the palate. A pleasing, rich, nutty finish that provides warmth.

Ah Glendronach. When a specific person was in charge, you wouldn't be releasing garbage like this. It's not terrible but it is inconsistent, bland etc. Avoid.