If sherried single malt is very much your thing, then GlenDronach is a name you should get to know very well. The distillery resides in the Highlands, busily working away on some incredible expressions, with sherried malt sitting at the core of many of them. This particular dram, The GlenDronach 12 Year Old, is allowed to age in a combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks from Spain, resulting in generous helpings of dried fruit and Christmas spice running through it.
Please note: We're afraid we can't guarantee which vintage you will receive. It'll still be yummy GlenDronach no matter the vintage, mind!
Rich cereals, struck match, raisin, cinnamon, caramelised sugar. Opens with some sweeter PX and lots of delicious raw ginger before becoming creamier with hazelnuts.
Fruits, peels, buttery. Pain au chocolat, a little marmalade on toast before becoming firmer and nuttier with spiced raisins.
Smoky toffee and nut brittle.
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Orange peel, rum and cherries on the nose and tongue. Some heat and rum raisin trail this pleasant single malt scotch whisky. Throughout, the oloroso sherry is talking to ya! Wonderful!
I had this in the Whiskey Christmas Advent and really enjoyed it. I, being a Sherry finish fan, am sure to add this to my personal bar.
I can't speak for the newest (2015) bottling, but the 2014 examples (I bought a second bottle before I even finished the first) were simply fantastic. This is a true sherry-bomb and, in my opinion, is superior to my benchmark Mac 12. The nose is simply incredible; dark sherry with a background of late fall fireside smoke, caramel and walnuts. The body is full of sherry fruit and oaky vanilla, with a hint of honey and smoke. The finish is candied sweets, toffee and a bit more smoke right at the end of the finish. Seriously fabulous stuff for a nosing glass and an hour of sipping per dram; tastes like every good holiday memory you've ever had.
I have had this whisky before, and I have liked it. For whatever reason the dram I received was virtually straight ethanol. No matter how hard I tried to like it, it burned its way in. The scent of vanilla grew as it opened up, and I added a little water. When sipped it hinted at some fruit, but mostly it just burned. I added water and more fruit came out, but even after waiting an hour, it still simply burned. Absolutely no cream, spice, or butter to this, just raw alcohol. Disappointing. I always have wondered if the top of a bottle may taste different sometimes, and I would be willing to give this one a go again, but not on my dollar. I have been told that this grows on you with time, and I'm open to that, but maybe some other time. Final Note: I am doing the 2015 advent calendar. As a result, I get one drink at it to decide if I like it enough to buy more. Sometimes I need to drink something three or four times to make up my mind. Thus, my rating is based on a one-time drink experience.
I've really come to love this stuff. Agree with one of the earlier reviews of it needing some time. First 1/3 or more of the bottle it was just ok, a bit congested but after that it has opened up very nicely. Brown sugar/toffee sweetness but not overly so, nutty, some red fruits,...raspberry, dried fruits,..raisin, prune, white pepper and wood spice. Cherry coke and a touch of chocolate in the finish!
