Glendronach Single Cask 1993 (cask 658)

$50 for one ounce at Jack Rose 1990s Glendronach is comparable to 1980s Macallan; perhaps of equal quality, but certainly more affordable. Even at a very high price, it's significantly undervalued in today's market. If you're tired of finishes in seasoned Pedro Ximénez casks and desire a sherry masterpiece that won't break the bank, acquire a 1990s Glendronach vintage now. This one loses a star for tasting like cough syrup upon first impression. Bitter wood, cherries, and figs. Adding water and time acts like saliva for this whiskey. Components begin to break down, releasing simple sugars from the complex carbohydrates... I'm unsure of the exact chemistry. It becomes sweeter. It improves. Macerated dark fruits, leather, tobacco. This is a sherry-infused dream that I likely consumed too quickly because it continuously improved, revealing ever richer details, right up to the final sip. It ultimately reached three-star status, but I'm awarding it two because it's harsh straight from the bottle. I tasted this alongside a 1994 Glendronach, a 22-year-old from a single PX sherry cask. Both bottles were newly opened. That PX offering, however, is immediately impressive from the first moment out of the bottle. Score: ** (incredibly good) Cost of a bottle: Unknown. Estimated worth of a bottle: $500

Glendronach 1/15/93 23 year cask #41 Smell: Intense, rich dark fruits like plums, cherries, and pomegranates; also cinnamon, raisins, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, and cedar wood. Taste: An initial rush of baking spices, followed by walnuts, dark chocolate, rum-soaked raisins, and plump dark plums; wood spice is also present. Aftertaste: A lengthy, succulent finish with cedar wood, dark chocolate, and tobacco. A delightful heavily sherried Glendronach. It's a good spirit overall, though it doesn't quite meet the lofty expectations set by the 1993 release. The nose showcases lovely sherry influence with dark fruits, raisins, and dark chocolate, alongside baking spice and oak. The palate begins with a surge of spice, quickly dominated by a nutty walnut flavor. The sherry then fully asserts itself on the palate, leading to a long, juicy finish. Further notes of dark chocolate, cedar wood, and tobacco complete the experience. Rest assured, this is an outstanding pour. Any scotch lover would be fortunate to possess it, but the acclaim it garnures is somewhat excessive.