GlenDronach Parliament 21 Year

My first tasting yielded a rating of 2.75, finding the whisky not particularly enjoyable. However, upon pouring a second glass and letting it sit for 15 minutes before drinking, I rated it 5.00. Nose: Full-bodied, intensely sherry, toasted wood, caramelized peaches, honey, waffles. Palate: Unfortunately, drinking it immediately reveals a hint of damp cork, similar to a corked wine, which detracts from the experience. I'm unsure if this is an issue with this specific bottle or a characteristic of the whisky, but it ruins everything. Allowing it to breathe like a fine wine, however, makes this taste disappear, leaving only the exceptional sherry notes. Then, it's sherry, sherry, and more sherry, with candied orange peel, spices, coffee chocolate, and a slight pungency. Superb. The finish is bitter with citrus and dark chocolate, quite pungent. If I hadn't inadvertently left it to breathe for an extended period, I would have given it a low score. It requires understanding. Let it aerate before sipping, and you'll be thrilled! Conversely, that hint of "corked" spoils everything, making it a poorly rated whisky. Ultimately, a fantastic whisky that needs to be appreciated; it ranks among the top 5 whiskies I've ever had. Rating 5.00 __________________________________________________ Al primo bicchiere ho dato 2,75, definendo questo whisky come non particolarmente piacevole. Poi mi sono versato il secondo bicchiere, me lo sono dimenticato lì, e dopo 15 minuti l’ho bevuto. 5,00....... Naso: corposo, super sherry, legno tostato, pesche caramellate, miele, waffle. Palato: purtroppo bevendolo subito a rovinarlo appare una punta di sughero umido che ricorda un vino tappato. Non so se sia un problema di questa singola bottiglia o una caratteristica di questo whisky, ma rovina tutto. Invece, facendolo respirare come un buon vino, questo gusto scompare e rimane solo la parte eccezionale dello sherry! Quindi sherry, sherry e sherry, scorze di arancio candite, spezie, cioccolato al caffè, leggermente pungente. Superbo. Il finale è amarognolo agli agrumi e cioccolato fondente, abbastanza pungente. Se non lo avessi involontariamente lasciato lì a respirare per un bel po’, sarei rimasto a 2,75. Va capito. Lasciatelo respirare prima di berlo, ne resterete entusiasti! Viceversa, quella punta di “tappato” rovina tutto rendendolo un whisky di bassa classifica. In definitiva, un whisky fantastico che va solo capito, nella top 5 dei miei whisky di sempre. Voto 5,00

The aroma is moderately rich, beginning with a slight tartness that evolves into a blend of figgy pudding, powdered sugar-coated sautéed apples, and aged leather-bound books. This is followed by mild pipe tobacco smoke, cocoa powder-dusted prunes, and toasted walnuts, then plums, apricots, and mango, transitioning to light floral notes, cloves, and black tea leaves with a mild ethanol burn. The taste presents a medium to full mouthfeel. It starts with slightly tart yet creamy tropical fruits that quickly shift to a mild bitter spice, which gradually fades into spicy mocha, pipe tobacco, and dusty leather-bound books. This is followed by dark chocolate-covered toasted walnuts and prunes, then dehydrated mango, papaya, and candied lemon peel, transitioning to vanilla seeds, cloves, ginger, and a light ashy oak spice with a medium ethanol burn. The finish is long, featuring pipe tobacco, figgy pudding, dehydrated mango, toasted walnuts, espresso, cloves, and dusty leather-bound books, lingering for minutes. This is a stunning whisky that harmoniously balances the flavors of old dusty oak, light sherry-induced tart dark berries, tropical fruits, and mild pipe tobacco. The nose perfectly balances these flavors with moderate richness and minimal alcohol bite, preceding the taste which has just shy of a high viscosity, ever so slightly leaning towards a mild bitterness that quickly recedes back to those wonderful, complex flavors found on the nose. The finish leans towards the earthy side with light sour sherry and tropical fruits in the background, boasting an almost eternal length. At $250, it's a costly purchase, but one I would suggest anyone try during their spirits exploration, whether as a bar sample or as a splurge for a special occasion bottle, as I highly doubt it would disappoint anyone. My thanks to the generous sample provided by a friend, as this was a true treat.

Given that this distillery is now considered a disaster, I purchased what is likely the only bottle of this 21-year-old I will ever own. I’ll share my initial impressions after a preliminary pour. First, regarding its appearance, this spirit is all about the visuals. It has a pleasing color but lacks viscosity or sediment, earning it a 1-star rating for looks. It appears somewhat cheap. Nose - Despite the sadness of whisky enthusiasts mourning the decline of this distillery, let’s try to appreciate the aroma. It presents a sticky, sweet PX candy scent, which I personally find unappealing. It reminds me of younger spirits, and I must push past that initial impression. As I continue, I detect cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of coal, a whisper of smoke, and, strangely, a clean scent like fresh springs. There’s also maple, brown sugar, and some raisins. Taste - This is where the dram excels. It’s a powerful sherry bomb, featuring notes from both PX and Oloroso. Dark fruits mingle with chocolate, oak, and chewy candies. There are lightly salted elements with traces of peat and smoke. The finish is exceptionally long and persistent. I’ll revisit this and add more, but wow, this is a phenomenal whisky. This 2020 bottling is approximately 25 years old. I must admit, it is simply outstanding. I rate it 4 stars, possibly even 4.25. I plan to compare it with a 2020 18-year-old bottling. I bought this at US pricing to ensure a 2020 or later bottling and to avoid concerns about new chill-filtration methods. I will not purchase a bottle from this distillery if it is chill-filtered. Frankly, I may stop buying their products altogether if that becomes the standard in my market. Brands should act responsibly nowadays. If certain markets do not embrace quality, they should invest in education. Do not damage your brand reputation.

Okay, I've reached the pinnacle. I began with the 12, which is excellent and likely the finest 12-year-old sherried scotch available. The 15 was even superior and offered tremendous value at $89. The 18 was absolutely heavenly and the best scotch I've ever experienced, easily a 5-star rating. $170 is a significant expense for most people for a bottle of scotch and pushes the limits of diminishing returns quite far, but I can assure you the 18-year is worth the cost if you can manage it. That brings us to the 21-year Parliament, which originally cost around $230 (suddenly raised to $280!!!). How can this possibly be worth so much more than the magnificent 18-year, and why should you consider buying it? Well, I could offer the clichés like 'you only live once' and 'if you have the means, spend it,' which hold some truth and wouldn't exist otherwise. You might think, yes, but screw that guy, it's still $230. I waited until the bottle was nearly empty to finish my review and can now honestly state that I would not buy it again. It is a wonderful sherried scotch. The nose and palate are sophisticated and exquisite, with luscious dark red fruits and malt layered with aged leather, dark chocolate, and antique wood. The finish is soft and delicately fades like a cotton ball against the cheek. It is a glorious 21-year-old scotch that any sherry enthusiast will adore. The only drawback is that, in my opinion, the 18-year is superior. It possesses a creamy, rich flavor, while the 21-year is subdued and flat. Both are superb, but why spend the extra money when the 18-year simply nails it? If ultimate refinement and incredible smoothness are your goals, this is the one for you. Either way, you win......95/100.

Shared with a few people; this might be the last taste (from an aged and ore sample). The aroma is incredibly inviting, offering sweet raisins and abundant dark fruit. Sherry's influence is strong, with nutty undertones. Oak notes are present, but they enhance the raisin/date/almond flavors instead of overpowering them. While I'd want to taste it, just smelling this gem is a pleasure in itself. The taste is summed up as "elegant." Raisins, figs, dates, brown sugar characterize this sophisticated spirit, impressive enough for a seasoned scotch drinker to grasp its subtlety, yet easily approachable for a novice. In essence, this could be the finest scotch I've ever sampled, a significant compliment. I must acquire a bottle, as the small sip I used for this review is already gone, which is simply not enough. A truly world-class pour...

Glendronach 21 Rachel Bottling Non-Chill Filtered 2021~2020 Color: The hue is slightly lighter than the 18-year-old, perhaps due to Pedro Ximénez influence, yet it still appears over 18 years old with a distinct sherry character. Nose: Billy Walker's 21-year-old is powerful and structurally robust; in contrast, Rachel's 21-year-old is subtle, delicate, and complex, unfolding like an onion. It displays a well-balanced aroma. The sherry influence here is not the heavy, rich type but rather provides structure, which is impressive. While older whiskies can sometimes have overpowering woody notes, here, wood and nuttiness blend harmoniously, emerging only subtly as a baseline. The sherry's funkiness is moderate, unlike Billy's version, acting as a complementary sauce for the whisky rather than dominating it. The balance is truly outstanding. It's so refined it could almost be mistaken for the subtlety of Macallan. The harmony of sherry's funkiness and fungal notes is remarkable. Palate: It begins with a pleasant sweetness, offering a sherry profile akin to Pinot Noir, showcasing moderate maturation rather than being overly sticky. It's a beautiful and elegant whisky. The interplay of wood and sherry provides structure, within which fruitiness and spice notes are artfully presented. One can truly sense the distinct touch and quality of spice in well-aged, superior whiskies. Finish: The finish reflects its maturation, with a gentle lingering fruitiness and feminine delicacy. The sherry's woody character is present. Despite its age, the balance and structure are superb... It's simply beautiful.