Category: GlenDronach

Whiskies distilled at GlenDronach in the Highland region of Scotland

Review: GlenDronach 21-Year 1994 Single Cask #1189 Distillery Exclusive

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, GlenDronach, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

Paid: $180 for 700ml via Auction

Distilled/Owned By: Glendronach / Brown-Forman

Region: Highland

54.1% ABV

Aged For: 21 Years, distilled Oct. 14 1994, bottled Oct. 2015

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: PX Sherry Puncheon

Chill Filtered:  No

Artificial Coloring: No

Other Info: Cask #1189, Bottle #84, Distillery Exclusive

Color: Old Oak

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Dry sherry, bitter orange peel, crushed mint, musty oak, black tea, coffee beans, heather, and chocolate chili powder

Feel:  Supple, but drying

Taste: Rich sherry, dried fruits, espresso, vanilla bean paste, black pepper, spicy oak, highland malted barley, cranberry, dark chocolate, and cherry brandy

Finish: Warm and long, with a drying effect. Amaretto, sherry, caramel, sprigs of mint and thistle, citrus, oak, buttery filo pastry, and bitter grape skins.

Thoughts: This tasted more of an oloroso profile than a PX one to me, but none the less is a complex and amazing dram. A good example of the rich powerful malt GlenDronach was producing before their closure in 1996. As you continue to drink it becomes sweeter and more easy going, but snap back to attention and you will be hit by various spectrum’s of the flavor wheel.

Score:  90 out of 100

Glendronach 22 Year 1994 PX Cask UK Exclusive

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, GlenDronach, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

Glendronach 22 Year 1994 PX Cask UK Exclusive

Price: $225 for 700ml

Distilled/Owned by: Glendronach / Brown Forman

Region: Highland

53.2% ABV

Aged For: 22 years, distilled 1994

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: PX sherry, cask # 1376

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Burnt umber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Malt, walnut, sherry, blueberry, key lime pie, and dark chocolate

Feel: Rich

Taste: Rich sherry, dried fruits, blueberry, cocoa, caramel drizzle, and nuts

Finish: Warm and lasting, slight balsamic notes, prunes, fig, sweet oaky tannins, caramel, and vanilla

Thoughts: I love me some PX single cask Glendronach, it’s a goddamn shame the prices have become so outrageous as of late, I have a feeling Brown-Forman is positioning the brand to take on Macallan.

Score: 90 out of 100

Glendronach 15 Tawny Port Finish

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, GlenDronach, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

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Paid: $40 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Glendronach / Brown Forman

Region: Highland

46% ABV

Aged For: 15 years

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon, finished in Tawny Port casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Copper

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Plums and raisins, rock candy, cognac, rose water, honey

Feel: Syrupy

Taste: Blueberry pancakes, vanilla, almonds, figs, strawberry, maple butter, chocolate

Finish: Medium length and long with a sweet dry warmth of chocolate, oak, berries, port. Plums, raisins, and custard

Thoughts: The nose doesn’t reveal the amazing taste and finish of this dram. Amazing stuff.

Score: 90 out of 100

GlenDronach Peated Port Wood

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, GlenDronach, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

Glendronach peated port wood

Price: Discontinued

Distilled/Owned by: GlenDronach / Brown-Forman

Region: Highland

46% ABV

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Aged For: NAS

Cask Type: Unspecified, finished in port pipes

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Light Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Juicy berries, port wine, smoke, caramel, raisins, and a bit of chocolate

Mouthfeel: Medium body

Palate/Taste: Spicy oak, pepper, dark chocolate, and caramels

Finish: Medium warmth and length, cinnamon, smoke, leather, caramel, and oak.

Thoughts: It’s less buttery and creamy than the GlenDronach peated, with more spice and the emphasis coming in from the port casks.

Score: 84 out of 100

 

GlenDronach 8 The Hielan

On By MajorHopIn 75-79, GlenDronach, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

GlenDronach 8 Helian

Price: $50 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: GlenDronach / Brown-Forman

Region: Highland

46% ABV

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Aged For: 8 years

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon and sherry casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Deep gold

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Heavy citrus, dry wine, honey, floral, ginger, malt, and herbs

Mouthfeel: Medium body

Palate/Taste: Oak, apples, lemon, vanilla, spice, heavy malt, and leather

Finish: Medium warmth and length, cinnamon, raisins, earth, and pepper.

Thoughts: I normally love Glendronachs, but this one didn’t do it for me. When I have a glendro I’m not looking for leather, earth, and pepper, which is what I got here.

Score: 75 out of 100

GlenDronach 11 2003 Single Cask PX

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, GlenDronach, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

Glendronach 11 2003

Price: Discontinued

Distilled/Owned by: Glendronach / Brown-Forman

Region: Highland

55.3% ABV

Store Pick: Origin Beverage

Aged For: 11 Years

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: PX Sherry

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Burnished

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Caramel, sherry, raisins, vanilla, orange peel, brown sugar, and oak

Feel: Full bodied

Taste: Sherry and chocolate with a bit of cinnamon, oak, pepper, dried citrus, dried nuts and toffee

Finish: Medium warmth and lasting with dried fruit, vanilla, and ginger

Thoughts: This is how I like my sherried drams, I have seem to have a preference for younger Glendronach single casks as they seem more “lively” to me.

Score: 88 out of 100

GlenDronach 15 Revival

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, GlenDronach, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

Glendronach 15

Price: Discontinued

Distilled/Owned by: Glendronach / Brown-Forman

Region: Highland

46% ABV

Aged For: 19 Years (Yes more than the label says)

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: PX and Oloroso Sherry

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Mahogany

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Sherry, raisin, raspberry, fig, fresh fruit, chocolate, and oak

Feel: Medium body

Taste: Rich sherry, caramel, vanilla, oak, plantains, sultana, honey, and pomegranate

Finish: Slight warmth and long lasting, dark fruit, caramel, chocolate, and sherry

Thoughts: It’s a shame there is not more of this stuff, it’s a lovely expression of sherried malt.

Score: 88 out of 100

GlenDronach 21 Parliament

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, GlenDronach, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

GlenDronach 21

Paid: $120 for 700ml

Distilled/Owned by: Glendronach / Brown-Forman

Region: Highland

48% ABV

Aged For: 21 Years

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added : No

Cask Type: PX Sherry & Oloroso

 

 

Color: Mahogany

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Thick sherry, jammy, with raisins, raspberry sherbet, citrus, and light caramel sauce.

Feel: Almost wine like, dry and full bodied

Taste: Chocolate covered raspberries, vanilla, blackberry brandy, oak, fig, and plums

Finish: Dry, caramel, sherry oak, and plum with chocolate and vanilla. Dried citrus, very long.

Thoughts: Complex and overflowing with sherry, I think I preferred the profile of the 18 to this, but still a great dram in its own regard.

Score: 85 out of 100

GlenDronach 12 Original

On By MajorHopIn 75-79, GlenDronach, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

Glendronach 12

Paid: $65 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Glendronach / Brown-Forman

Region: Highland

43% ABV

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Aged For: 12 years

Cask Type: PX sherry & Oloroso sherry casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Light amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Slight Sulphur, sherry, raisin, orange peel and oak.

Mouthfeel: Intermediate

Palate/Taste:Jammy raspberry and orange, sherry, caramel, Sulphur, and dried fruit.

Finish: Medium warmth with ginger, caramel, and sherry.

Thoughts: I’ve had the 12, 18, and 21 year expressions, and have to believe the sweet spot is the 15-18 year range. The 12 is alright, but the extra age helps the flavor out quite a bit.

Score: 78 out of 100

GlenDronach Peated

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, GlenDronach, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

Glendronach Peated

Paid: $42 for 700ml

Distilled/Owned by: Glendronach / Brown-Forman

Region: Highland

46% ABV

Aged For: NAS

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon, Oloroso sherry, and PX sherry casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Very light gold

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Soft peat, cinnamon, slight lemon, oak, subtle vanilla, and mountain air.

Taste: Good oily mouthfeel. Vanilla, honey, and butter merge together. Peppered peat smoke and sugary caramel.

Finish: Medium length and warmth with hints of sugar cookie, vanilla and just the faintest moss notes.

Thoughts: Very sweet and sugary for a peated expression. If you enjoy Glendronach’s malt then this is well worth checking out.

Score: 82 out of 100