GlenDronach The Doric

Glendronach remains the top distillery to this day, and I know you'll mention their recent decision to use chill-filtration and lower the ABV on new releases, but since I'm still acquiring the older, quality stock, my view on "Glendro" hasn't changed yet. This "The Doric" bottling is a 50% ABV release exclusive to Taiwan, honoring the Doric dialect spoken in Scotland. It's a beautiful "slang" with many unique phrases that sound like you're channeling William Wallace from Braveheart. On the nose, it's excellent. It starts with a dominant grape note, like grape juice. After a minute, it shifts to hay and chocolate. Coffee with milk, cinnamon, cream, prunes, and marshmallows. On the palate, it's sweet and tropical. Chocolate fudge, chili. A second sip brought a nice creamy vanilla and coconut. Oily. It resembles a good rum. The finish is very satisfying. A sawdust note mingled with red fruits. Chili and cocoa butter. Spicy and fruity. Thick. Overall, I adored this dram, as I do with most Glendronachs. I've had some inconsistent experiences with expressions made solely for Taiwan, some good, some not so much. This one was fantastic, and if you can find it, get it. The 50% ABV provides an extra layer of flavors and aromas without being too intense for a beginner. An exceptional whisky, my rating is 94 out of 100.