GlenDronach Original 12 Year

Continuing to sample spirits from my personal reserve that remain unreviewed. My fondness for GlenDronach began with my initial taste years ago. Beyond these three, I've had the privilege of trying the 21 “Parliament” and the 25 at Milroy’s in London; they produce several other expressions as well (Core, Travel Retail, Special & Limited Releases). GlenDro is known for its sherry influence, which I find quite appealing. This also highlights the diversity of Scotch whisky; while I'm a major bourbon enthusiast, that spirit is rather uniform in style compared to the vast range and depth found in Scotch, with sherry-finished or "bombed" varieties representing one facet of that spectrum. GlenDronach 12 “Original” Exhibits a deep amber hue, akin to clear Pantone 138. The sherry aroma is prominent, revealing sweet fig preserves, candied walnuts, faint petrol, quince, white pepper (in scent, not taste), pomander, a touch of vanilla, and a subtle spearmint coolness. Of the trio, the 12-year lacks the fullness and generosity of the 15- and 18-year expressions. It presents some salinity and dates alongside the aromatic notes. Ethanol emerges at the end, introducing mild chili spice and a somewhat brief finish. The complex aroma is its strongest suit. The taste doesn't possess the roundness of its older counterparts; the alcohol content is lower; and the finish is shorter. GlenDro 12 is available for approximately $60. Would I purchase it again? Yes. 3.75 out of 5 stars. Non-chill filtered. No added coloring. Matured in both Oloroso and PX sherry casks. 43% ABV. GlenDronach 15 “Revival” The 15-year's deep burnt orange color is slightly darker than the 12-year's; Pantone 153. Upon nosing, the glass offers rich, warm scents of Christmas pudding, brown sugar, tangy barbecue sauce, and a hint of salt. The spirit is rounder and more expansive than the 12-year; the texture isn't notably viscous. Similar flavors to the aroma are present, along with pralines and a bit more saltiness. A peanut brittle note appears on the finish, accompanied by white pepper, dark honeyed yeast rolls, and a gentle petrol undertone. The GlenDronach distillery was closed for several years in the late 90s and early 2000s, and the "Revival" name for the 15-year-old expression signifies the distillery's reawakening after that period. The overall impression of this whisky is one of power, complexity, and elegance. Contrasting with the dark, stewed-fruit characteristics common in many aged sherry-cask whiskies, the Revival displays a certain youthfulness and vigor, fitting its name and history. It costs about $90 online, but I seldom see it locally. The GlenDro 15 Revival is outstanding. This sherry-forward spirit isn't just an intense sherry experience (on the nose or palate), but a profound exploration of its complexities. I would appreciate a cask-strength version, similar to Aberlour A’Bunadh (GlenDronach does feature a NAS cask-strength whisky on its site, but none with an age statement). Would I buy it again? Yes, if I could locate it. 4.5 out of 5 stars. Non-chill filtered. No added coloring. Matured in both Oloroso and PX sherry casks. 46% ABV. GlenDronach 18 “Allardice” The 18-year expression is the darkest of the three: a clear Pantone 159. The nose provides rich raisin paste, toasted and buttered raisin bread, vanilla, apple butter spread, prunes, crème brûlèe, cinnamon, and espresso. It is the richest of the group. The palate begins to show some thickness. Similar to the 15-year, the higher alcohol content is masked by the robust flavor profile. The finish includes notes of smoked pulled pork, dark chocolate, and a touch of espresso bitterness. “Allardice” refers to GlenDronach’s founder, James Allardice. The character of the 18-year is a deeper, more intense rendition of its younger siblings. Not plain vanilla, but vanilla extract. Not just raisins, but warm raisin paste (if such a thing exists). Not dark plum fruit, but prunes. Not coffee, but espresso. Not chocolate, but warm, melted dark chocolate. Quite distinct from the 15-year, but excellent in its own right. 4.5 out of 5 stars. Non-chill filtered. No added coloring. Matured in Oloroso sherry casks. 46% ABV. Postscript: I acquired the 50 ml sample bottle (of an 18-year-old whisky!) pictured here in London; I haven't seen them available in the U.S. Each of these whiskies, while clearly showing sherry aging, are quite different. There's a progression in color and complexity. While the 12- and 15- year are stated as being finished in PX and Oloroso sherry casks, the 18 states only Oloroso—somewhat unexpected, as PX is darker, and the 18 is indeed darker. I am very fond of both the 15- and 18-year expressions, for distinct reasons. And the 12, which is considerably more affordable than the other two, offers good value for an introduction to GlenDro’s signature style. These are high-quality spirits that justify their premium price not through marketing, but through the spirit itself. Highly recommended. The GlenDronach distillery, established in 1827, has undergone several ownership changes throughout its history. It was most recently acquired by Brown-Forman in 2016. Note: All spirits were tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

The aroma is immediately full of sherry, with a hint of sulfur, no sign of youth, PX sherry, dark anise bread, musty notes, butterscotch, raisins, fresh leather, dry autumn leaves, Christmas spices like spekulaas or clove and cinnamon, licorice, and Tatin - French caramelized apple cake. The palate has a good body, quite dark and syrupy, sweet with notes of oxidized sherry, dates, raisins, also spices, wood spice, black pepper, gingerbread, fresh gingery notes, and a lightly herbal character. The finish is fairly long (rated 4/5) and oily, rounded with notes of dried apricot, blackberries, dark bread, quality chocolate/cocoa beans, cashew nuts, pain au chocolat/sweet pastry, and an oaky bitterness. Overall, I enjoyed this bottle from beginning to end, but it didn't convert me into a devoted fan. The aroma is intensely sherried with a good blend of PX and Oloroso notes, along with spekulaas/Christmas spices, and my favorite note here, the Tatin - French caramelized apple cake. The palate is quite syrupy and delivers even at 43% ABV, initially sweet like dates and raisins, then spices emerge with notes like black pepper, wood spice, fresh ginger, and gingerbread. The finish is of good length, oily, and rounded with notes of dried apricot, blackberries, and a delightful pain au chocolat note. Even though I didn't become a fanboy, as I mentioned, I would still be happy to get another bottle at a fair price. It serves as a good introduction to the style of a well-sherried Highland scotch. *This was still the non-chill filtered version In comparison with: • GlenAllachie 12 - much darker and denser in smell and taste, more perfumed, quite different • Glenrothes 12 - has more of a strong seasoned cask sherry character, also more vanilla, nuts, and sulfur but less body and less oily • Bunnahabhain 12 - it is very different, but this comparison revealed some notes I hadn't encountered before. More nutty, funky, cheesy, minerality, and a lovely tobacco/cigar note.

Review #57 - Whisk(e)y #41 This is my first experience with a fully sherry cask matured whisk(e)y. I acquired it for approximately 35 euros, which seems reasonable considering its typical market price. Chill-filtered - Yes? Added Colour - No ABV - 43% Appearance - deep gold-amber, noticeably oily Nose - genuine sherry influence! Sweet, oily, creamy, with dried fruit (especially raisins and dates), subtle spices (cinnamon), oak, honey, vanilla, milk chocolate, malt, and also some ripe orchard fruit (red apple). A wonderful nose. Palate - a beautifully creamy texture... could it be chill-filtered after all? The second characteristic that struck me was PEAT! This was unexpected, but acceptable, even for me, as it adds complexity, though it's slightly dominant at first (it fades with oxidation). It then presents the same notes as the nose: honey, vanilla, caramel, oak, malt, nutty, sweet, milk chocolate, general dried fruit, and also an earthiness from the peat, with mild bitterness and spice. Finish - medium length, oily, with oak and a drying sensation towards the end, accompanied by plum. The aftertaste has some bitterness, dark chocolate, and very prominent raisins, figs, and dates. The peat significantly altered my expectations but was surprisingly pleasant (considering how unpleasant I found Ardbeg 10). However, with further oxidation, the nose and palate become clearer (with very little peat remaining), leaving a pleasant hint of smoke and increased spiciness on the finish. It's complex, intriguing, and has a great mouthfeel... while a bit too spicy for my preference, it's a very good whisky. Rating System: 5.0 - Perfect 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB

It has been approximately eighteen months since my last tasting of this whisky. It shows improvement compared to my previous notes from 10/14/23 (though I lack the 15 and 18 for direct comparison). It displays significant sherry-finished characteristics: candy apple, caramelized sugar, hazelnut, dates, clove, and a hint of orange oil. The mouthfeel is lightly viscous, with the typical Scotch finish of white pepper at the end, leading to a moderate to long conclusion with notes of espresso, dark chocolate, and a certain gravitas. I just finished a NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve Champagne immediately prior. I do not believe this is rating inflation from my earlier assessment, but the whisky's components may indeed be amplified following the acidic and citrus notes of the Champagne. Would I purchase it again? Yes.

NEAT AROMA - A fantastic sherry aroma filled with raisins and other dried fruits, vanilla, and cinnamon. TASTE - The texture is a bit thin, but the flavors are certainly present. While not intense, it's well-balanced and easy to drink. On the palate, I taste raisin and other dark dried fruits, along with orange. As you move to the middle of the palate, the sherry notes become more pronounced leading into the finish. FINISH - It leaves a long, drying sensation on the palate. A gentle vanilla note appears right after swallowing, followed by sherry, light oak, and spice. BUY? - Yes. BUY AGAIN? - Absolutely. This is excellent scotch. This is from a 2023 bottling. I wonder what the earlier batches, which were reportedly much better, were like.

With the cool breezes and changing leaves of autumn, I was in the mood for a whisky. It's still a bit too early in the season for a smoky Islay, which I reserve for fireplace weather. Therefore, I chose a sherry-finished single malt. What's not to appreciate about Glendro 12? The nose presents fruity, spicy notes of apple cider, cinnamon, pomander, and scones. The sweetness observed on the nose carries through to the palate, which reveals a slight glycerin presence and cinnamon red hots, transitioning to a touch of white pepper and caramelized sugar on the finish. Would I purchase it again? Yes, if only to have a benchmark for comparison with the 15, 18, and 21 expressions.