| The
Glendronach Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Forgue, by Huntly
Aberdeenshire AB54 6DB Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)1466 730 202 / Fax: +44(0)1466 730 313
Viewer's Comments about The Glendromach
 When
Glendronach opened its doors in 1826, many Scottish single
malts were matured in Spanish sherry casks. However over the
years the ever-increasing rarity and price (they are over
10 times as expensive as ‘standard’ barrels!)
has seen a major switch to American Bourbon barrels by the
whisky industry. Indeed today there are perhaps only 2 distilleries
that can truly be classified as ‘sherry maturation’
houses and only one where 100% of the single malt sold still
enjoys its primary maturation exclusively in sherry casks.
We are proud to be that distillery.
Even today if you were to wander around our distillery
you would be transported back into the great Victorian era
of whisky production. Walk along the line of Oregon pine
washbacks fermenting away and smell the damp air in the
original stone dunnage maturation warehouses as you walk
past line upon line of Spanish Oloroso butts quietly giving
up their ‘share’ to the angels. Our coal fired
furnaces are no longer in operation due to health and safety
rules, however, the Glendronach Distillery was the last
distillery in Scotland to use them.
As you cross the Dronach burn back to the old manor house,
you are walking in the footsteps of James Allardice himself,
our founder and mentor. He coined the phrase ‘The
guid Glendronach’ and was a stickler for tradition.
170 years on we see no reason to doubt his wisdom or his
words.
Our primary expression of the Glendronach® is a 12 year
old. It is of course matured in sherry casks for 12 years
but then ‘finished’ in American oak. This has
the effect of marrying the sherry notes with the creamy
vanilla tones that American oak offers. It is a beautifully
smooth Highland whisky – as you would expect from
one of the original ‘grand distilleries’ of
the early 1800s. It was in fact the highest duty paying
distillery in Highlands in the 1860s.
Does this mean we have turned our back on our founder and
100% sherry-matured malts? Of course not! However today it
is increasingly a style appreciated by real connoisseurs of
whisky. Producing top quality, sherry-matured whisky is a
true distiller's art. If the raw spirit does not have the
right balance of flavours then the finished product will end
up dominated by the sweetness imparted by the sherry butts.
Glendronach are the experts in this tricky balancing act.
In one respect however, we are no different to all other
distilleries – in distilling there is always ‘the
unknown’. From time to time a batch of whisky is produced
that for some unexplained reason is ‘special’
we put these casks to one side and allow them to mature
further until we believe they have reached their level of
perfection. In our experience top quality, sherry matured
whisky requires a far longer maturation period compared
to conventional malts. In some cases it is just a few more
years. Others require longer. Many people still talk wistfully
about our last limited release the 25 year old expression,
now sadly all gone.
However...Sitting in a corner of our traditional stone
maturation house was an even older batch. Only now has the
time been deemed right to awaken the whisky from its long
sleep and bottle it. How long has it been sleeping? Thirty
three long years!
We believe that ‘The 33’ is the finest expression
of Glendronach ever made. The sherry butts have imparted
their luscious flavour which is perfectly counter balanced
by the classic fruitiness of the Glendronach spirit. The
finish is long as you would expect, with that trademark
hint of peat smoke that our kilns imparted all those years
ago.
 To
celebrate 'The 33’ we have specially commissioned
a circular wood enclosure, hand made with a hand finished
lacquer exterior, with a colour that matches the deep red
hue of its precious contents.
The Glendronach Distillery was acquired by Chivas Brothers
by the Larbert-based BenRiach
Distillery Company in August 2008.
Courtesy of The Glendronach Distillery |
One does not need any thing added just straight with no chaser. I might consider the scotch ale mentioned by Rick.
I will be in Scotland late April and early May and plan to visit this distillery for sure.
Life is great and is even better with 12 year old fine GlenDronach scotch. I am looking forward to tasting the 15 year old.
I am having a dram right now of the 12 year old yum yum.