GlenDronach Revival 15 Year (2018 Re-Release)

I was considering a closed distillery, an older release from an active one, or something rare. While those exist, I pondered what truly defines their specialness. I recalled cooking shows where elite chefs push boundaries, then step back to their roots to rediscover their initial passion, simplifying everything. Though I'm no chef, this concept resonated. What were my early, mind-expanding moments? For me, about six years ago when I started my whisky journey, a Glendronach was pivotal. My memory is hazy, but it was an eye-opener, even after just a year. The Glendronach 15 Original was a remarkable dram, costing about $60 USD then. Those were the days.. I once hosted a tasting that included this, a Glendronach 12 Sauternes, and a Glendronach 14 Virgin Oak. This was ages ago. It amazed several whisky enthusiasts, like me, who were newcomers. One attendee frantically bought every bottle of the 15-year-old he could find locally. It vanished afterward. My own search yielded nothing in our country (one is now $350 USD!). Weeks ago, through extensive trading, I acquired a bottle from him, along with my saved bottle of the 14-year-old Virgin Oak. The top was rusted, but it was mine. Additionally, I obtained the new Glendronach 15 Revival Version 2. So, an old versus new showdown. Will the original still impress, or is the new a weaker copy or a faithful recreation? I worried about the outcome: the new might be inferior, or it might be better, leading to backlash, or the old might fade while the new improves, or my memory might be inaccurate. Or perhaps bias would influence my judgment. The complexity was overwhelming. Then, I remembered the core idea: keep it simple. Taste both, enjoy one, the other, or neither, and decide based on the present experience. I proceeded without revealing the verdict. I let both bottles rest, then sampled them. The old offered immediate, deep, rich caramelized toffee, inviting a profound inhalation. The newer edition displayed red berry fruit from the PX influence, showing its relative youth but still delightful. Though I typically prefer Oloroso, I appreciated both noses, but the older version truly captivated me. My memory of its aroma held true, transporting me back years. On the palate, the flavors mirrored the nose. The new was younger, spicier, and more ethanol-forward, especially without water. The old delivered that rich, caramelized toffee. The finish was slightly shorter than I recalled, but knowing the bottle had only been open an hour, I anticipate its evolution over time. I usually share bottles, but this one I'll savor slowly. I decided to compare it with an old 18-year-old sample. It was excellent, as always, but surprisingly, despite also being pure Oloroso, it was spicier than the old 15-year-old. My preference? Sadly, the old 15-year-old is an exceptional dram, surpassing even the old 18-year-old stock. The new 15, while showing its youth, is also a great dram, easily a 4.25 to 4.5, making me question the old 18. But the old 15... why didn't I stock up? I want to thank everyone I've connected with on this platform – the notes I've enjoyed, the comments, the banter, and the 'aromatherapy samples' we've managed to discreetly exchange across vast distances. With deepest thanks.

I didn't have the opportunity to taste the initial 15 Revival, so I'm unable to make a comparison to its predecessor. The original was matured solely in Oloroso sherry casks, while this version also had a period in PX casks. Smell: A powerful sherry presence, as expected from Glendronach. Abundant dark fruits are present: dark cherries, plums, blackberries, and grapes. I also detect the scent of new car leather, which I often associate with sherry-aged scotch. Cola, dark chocolate, vanilla, banana, and toffee complete a very sweet aroma. Milk chocolate and caramel are also noticeable, along with strawberry and raspberry. Taste: Again, a strong sherry character. Cola and Christmas fruitcake. Plum, fig, and cocoa. It possesses a velvety mouthfeel. These are typical characteristics of a sherry-matured Highland whisky, yet I find this one to be the richest and most harmonious of the ones I've sampled. Vanilla and toffee are present, as is orange citrus, milk chocolate, honey, strawberry, macadamia, and almond. Finish: A sudden shift from sweetness to warmth, which I find enjoyable. There's a pleasant intensity that reminds me this bottling is slightly stronger than typical Scotch at 46%. Notes of cinnamon and pepper spice, with a medium to long finish. Apple, pear, and plum are also detected. Overall, it's a solid sherried Highland. When I first opened the bottle, I was certain it would be a five-star rating. I was ready to declare it a groundbreaking, standard-setting Highland malt. Almond, walnut, and macadamia are present. After a month and several more tastings, I've concluded that while it's significantly above average, it doesn't quite reach the pinnacle. It's exceptionally good, and if you can find it for under $100, I strongly suggest buying it. At $90, I consider it a great value. Bottled at 46% with maturation in two types of sherry casks, this is a commendable dram. This, along with its 12-year-old sibling, offers excellent value, and I'm eager to try the 18-year-old next. To date, Glendronach stands out as the best value in sherried Highland Scotch, largely due to the excellent work put into this 15-year-old expression. After a month and several more tastings, I've concluded that while it's significantly above average, it doesn't quite reach the pinnacle. It's exceptionally good, and if you can find it for under $100, I strongly suggest buying it. At $90, I consider it a great value. Bottled at 46% with maturation in two types of sherry casks, this is a commendable dram. This, along with its 12-year-old sibling, offers excellent value, and I'm eager to try the 18-year-old next. To date, Glendronach stands out as the best value in sherried Highland Scotch, largely due to the excellent work put into this 15-year-old expression. I'm revisiting this six and a half years later with another bottle. Since then, I've experienced many more sherry-matured Highland single malts, and the previous assessment has only been strengthened. This is superb, particularly the palate. Occasionally, the Highland character can become monotonous when sampling various bourbon barrel and even sherry cask-aged offerings. This one presents a distinct, potent, and delightful profile. My first sip felt like experiencing true color for the first time. Okay, perhaps not quite that dramatic, but it was significant enough to elevate the whisky above all other thoughts and concerns of the day. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It has only increased by $10 over this period, now priced at $100—thankfully, this has remained virtually unchanged by inflation. Elevated to 4.75 stars.

Happy Holidays everyone! I'm reviewing a few classic sherry bombs for the festive season. Since a 12-year-old expression was my favorite whisky of 2019, I decided to try the 15-year-old before opening my 18-year-old on Christmas. I spent the entire afternoon baking Christmas cookies (the semester is finished, and my grades are submitted), which might have influenced my tasting experience of this excellent dram. I'd heard amazing things about the 15-year-old before the older stock became unavailable. Back then, I was new to whisky and wouldn't have recognized a great scotch if it hit me. I was incredibly impressed by the initial smell and taste, so I can only imagine how good the older stock was (though I might get an idea when I open the 18-year-old). The aroma complemented the baking perfectly. It had buttery baking spices, sweet raisins and dates, milk chocolate (like premium chocolate kisses), and an overall scent that brought me back to our honeymoon in Paris. I think I nosed this for about 15 minutes before tasting it. I know the older version was exclusively matured in Oloroso casks, but I really enjoy PX sherry and sometimes order it by itself when my wife wants to go to a fancy wine bar that doesn't serve whisky (Texas liquor laws are ridiculous; some places only offer beer and wine, which is a bummer...). But I'm getting sidetracked. The PX is a welcome addition to the aroma, and I think the current blend is just fine. By the time I finally tasted it, the first sip offered sweet toffee and fruit flavors. Another taste revealed a candied nuttiness (similar to glazed pecans from a fair) and that signature Glendronach spice on the back end of the palate. It was like drinking the Christmas cookies I'd just made, except those took 20 minutes to prepare instead of over 15 years... The finish was incredible; it was so long and rich that it was almost emotional. It reminded me of coming home late from a work trip, taking off my shoes, and sinking into my couch with the relief of having the next day off. The product description mentions "dark manuka honey and dark chocolate" for the finish. I definitely tasted the dark chocolate, but I had to research manuka honey. A quick search revealed that manuka honey is a very expensive honey from New Zealand that celebrities overpay for (much like we do for whisky). It's not available in Texas, but we do have a fantastic mesquite honey from Mexico, and I can absolutely detect that on the finish. It's one of the longest and most pleasant finishes I've encountered on my whisky journey so far. If you're still reading, you're either a fan of Glendronach or you just enjoy my long-winded reviews. Either way, I highly recommend picking this one up. I paid $85, which is surprisingly the standard price in Texas. At that cost, I'll be keeping this bottle for a very long time. Enjoy!

It vanished, reappeared (altered), then vanished again (though not truly unavailable, just elusive), and now it's back. The reputation of this malt seems almost too good to be true. At the time of its return, I had a bottle of the 12-year-old and questioned if I truly needed another sherry-matured malt. The answer, I now realize, is yes. Yes, I did. To illuminate why I repeatedly poured this, comparing it against the 12-year-old, here's what I discovered: Glendronach 12 - 2018 Golden hue with a nose of honey malt, clover, vanilla, fig jam, subtle oak, cherry, and leather shoe polish. The spirit itself feels light on the tongue, with mild warmth and a medium finish featuring grape jam. The palate reveals a blend of bright berries and dried fruits, caramel malt, hay, buttered popcorn, earthy chocolate, and hints of fresh sawdust with very faint ethanol. Impression: youthful, balanced, bright, and fruity. Glendronach 15 - 2021 A shade darker than golden, with rich aromas of milk chocolate, raisin, maple syrup, pecans, charred oak, and subtle tobacco. Medium body, coating the mouth, with a noticeable warmth that spreads through the chest and a medium-long finish. Palate: the flavors are remarkable. An initial wave of earthy tobacco and oak hits first. Then, floral notes, vanilla, and wood char emerge, almost suggesting a bourbon. From the mid-palate onwards, it gently transitions into the realm of figs, dark chocolate, raisin, sherry, and nougat. Impression: I require more of this... Incredible. If Glenfarclas 25 approaches with quiet confidence and significant presence, this one charges in wielding a club and dominating with sherry. It's far richer and more concentrated than the younger, brighter 12-year-old. The upfront earthy notes are, from a bourbon drinker's perspective, simply outstanding. Curiously, there's minimal hay, heather, caramel, or honey to evoke a "malt" character. This could easily be mistaken for a well-finished rye whiskey. This surpasses Macallan 12. It may not be as viscous as the Glenlivet Cask Strength Nadurra, but it's considerably more engaging. Not as spicy as the Glenmorangie Malaga Cask, but again, deeper and earthier. Based on my limited prior experiences, I hadn't anticipated a sherry-finished whisky could achieve this. The nutty Oloroso, the rich raisin PX, the earthiness. The entire experience almost made me forget peated whiskies existed, at least for a dram or two.

This bottling has received criticism for the shift to PX and oloroso casks, not being 20+ years old despite being labeled a 15, and other issues. It costs about $80 for me, which seemed reasonable, though I recall seeing it for $100 previously, and it's available for less elsewhere. Nose: I know this sounds strange, but I detect an almost port-like sweetness, similar to what I might find in a port-finished bourbon or a fruity port-finished scotch. I get red fruits but not darker notes. No chocolate either, which is a bit unusual. It's sweet, very sweet scotch. I do detect some oak, slightly bitter. There's some alcohol present, which at 46% seems out of place. I get notes of berries and jam with alcohol and a bit of tartness. Taste: It has a somewhat chewy, savory, and fruity character. There are some tart notes and salty elements. I don't detect overt peat, but there might be a couple of PPM (I notice slightly more in the 18 year old). I can discern some light milk chocolate notes, toasted breads, spices, and simply sweet, sugary fruity elements. Texture: Oily and thick, surprisingly excellent mouthfeel for a 46% ABV, but let's not get overly enthusiastic if you prefer cask strength. Finish: This is where this expression truly stands out. It has a medium to long lingering finish. There's oak, possibly some salty smoke, and a chocolate and vanilla element that's buttery. It has a definite "dessert is served" quality. Yet, it's puckering and a bit bitter, and while those elements can be overlooked, they balance the sweetness and improve the finish. I am absolutely impressed at $80, especially considering how subpar the 12 year old is; it's remarkable that this new 15 year old manages to pack so much refinement and quality. It rivals many 18 and even 21 year old scotches, though it isn't as refined as some. Score: I'm giving it 4 stars. It's genuinely that good. This might be the best value whisky I've reviewed. I do anticipate some will find it too tart, bitter, and salty, as I believe people expect a pure sherry bomb, which this isn't exactly. Sorry, I was too focused on value during my review; I'm lowering it to 3.5 stars. It's great, but not $400 worth of great.

The initial aroma presents a mild tartness before evolving into a blend of figs, sugar cookies, and pipe tobacco, followed by cocoa-dusted prunes and toasted walnuts. This then shifts to plums, apricots, and lychee, transitioning into subtle florals, leather, and black tea leaves, accompanied by a slight ethanol sting. The palate offers a thin to medium body, beginning with creamy orchard fruits, then introducing a mild spice that quickly recedes to pipe tobacco, cocoa-dusted prunes, and espresso. This is succeeded by candied ginger, plums, and lychee, which then transform into vanilla seeds, toasted walnuts, leather, and a light, ashy oak flavor, with a gentle ethanol burn. The finish is of medium duration, featuring spicy mocha, figs, toasted marshmallow, lychee, cloves, and light, ashy oak. A delightful dram that is very accessible, with minimal alcohol detected on the nose and a harmonious combination of dark berries, citrus, tobacco, and light spices that carries through to the palate. It has an acceptable mouthfeel with mild spice and coffee notes before a finish that highlights the earthy, spicy characteristics, with the fruits and sweetness taking a backseat. At approximately $90, the pricing seems reasonable, and it would likely be an excellent selection for anyone seeking a high-quality sherried scotch. My thanks to a friend for the generous sample.