The GlenDronach 12 Year Old

This is no-nonsense stuff. You can definitely taste the whisky behind the sherry. The whisky is clean and a bit sharp, with a bitter drinness that probably results in the "match" tasting note. I feel the distillation shares a lot in common with Royal Lochnagar
On top, there is a well-integrated sweetness, most apparent in the nose. Not overdone or artificial. It serves to soften "an honest dram" rather than overwhelm it.
This does not drink like a mass market whisky. Its neither refined nor tamed enough for that. Instead, it is whisky made for those who have "done" the usual suspects and have decided to explore.
Is it a classic? At this point I'm not sure. But while I have been writing this review I have been chewing the aftertaste of my last sip.
I think the only thing this whisky needs is a bit more time in the barrel.
And that isn't a bad thing

15th September 2020

Tried a number, but this has to be my new go-to, my new favourite

17th August 2020

First sherry. Normally a laguvulin 16. Seems rougher than laguvulin. Not as smooth. Not bad but not for my taste.

16th July 2020

Nice.
Nothing extra, just a smooth scotch.
One that will bring you back again.

ML Maine

29th June 2020

A LOT Sherry. Unfortunately also some sulphur. Pretty nice but not in the same league as Macallan 12. Glenfarclas 12 is a better buy as well.

/E

7th June 2020

Superb dram and finally the one which both my husband and I can both enjoy. I'm a peat head and he likes Japanese Whisky but this is definitely a meeting in the middle. Very fruity and complex with just a hint of smoke. A truly beautiful malt.

16th May 2020

one of the best of 12 years, such better than macallan 12. sherry bomb. glendronach 12 > mac allan 12 > aberlour 12> glenfarclas 12

16th May 2020

Not generally a fan of sherried whiskies, much prefer Islay & the Islands, however this is a very enjoyable dram. Didn't find it too sweet, very easy to drink, although not much going on. 4/5

17th April 2020

Yeah, enjoyed this. Had it last night. Full of flavour, very sweet but a nice caramelised sugar sort or smell/taste. Finish is good aswell. Yeah for the price id say pick this up

28th March 2020

I have always liked the Macallan sherry cask 12 Yr old, I have tried and enjoyed the Glendronach 15 Yr old revival, for the money this 12 Yr old Glendronach is an absolute beauty, certainly better than the eqivulant Balvenie, IMHO

9th March 2020

Wanted to love this but it's just missing something. A little empty, and a short finish. Not wowed

23rd February 2020

Very smooth, yet fruitful! Matured and very easy to drink

12th February 2020

Beautiful sweet fruity nose and reasonably complex sweet fruity palate. Succesful maturation in active casks, what some call "smooth" in an unspecific way I guess. PX casks add a good depth and supplements the Oloroso beautifully. Good blending of casks. Its not going to scare novices and theres enough here for experienced malt mates to enjoy. Maybe what others call "easy to drink." Cask quality appears to be a bit above what is currently average. Not sure if its sherry seasoned or matured casks or a mix. Perhaps comparable to current Springbank wet sherry cask quality. No traces of charcoally reconditioned cask flavor. Basically quality all around. Spirit influence is mild and pleasant. I choose this over Macallan where prices are offensive compared to what you get. Here the quality does the marketing. I feel good buying this and will do it again.

26th January 2020

Been drinking this for a long time. Have yet to find anything to match it. A fabulous tipple drank neat.

25th January 2020

Before I tried this, my favorites where Chivas Regal 18 and Glenfiddich 15. This scotch beats everything I’ve had so far. Granted, I haven’t had a ton, but this is worth a try!

15th December 2019

One of the best whiskey I ever had

11th November 2019

Very oily and smooth, definitely a sherried whisky. The nose is sugar and nuts. Palate is raisins, nuts and a little apple. Finish is medium with nuts and a hint of smoke. A word of warning: Go very light on the water with this whisky because the palate becomes too dilute. It's one of the few I drink neat.

7th November 2019

My husbands favourite tipple - always a warming little treat on a cold day after golf !

24th October 2019

Lovely single malt, I paid £34 on Amazon and will definitely be buying again.
Its far superior to the 12 year old Aberlour in every way although it is £10 more but worth every extra penny.
Its a sherry bomb on the nose and on the palate I find it very oily and it covers my mouth really well to distribute the flavour, this is the best mouth feel of all 30 odd whiskeys ive tried so far.
It has a typical rich dark fruity sherried taste to start off and tails off into malty and coffee flavours for me.
I give it a slight edge over the Balvenie double wood but its very close and I wouldn't be 100% on that.
Definitely recommend this single malt.

24th June 2019

Got a bottle after some reading and recommendations! Certainly not disappointed. Some richness and depth without feeling heavy.
A word of caution! After adding water to my glass (only a teaspoon), all those cask notes disappeared, which makes me beg for a 46% abv. Enjoy this neat!

23rd May 2019

Forget all the nuts, raisins, apples and spices aroma. Suffice it to say that the complex aromatics will remind you of the smell of nanny's kid leather gloves, or your first girlfriend's hair if you want it to.
What's important is the taste, and this is a good, old fashioned sherried whisky like they used to make it. Like The Macallan used to be before they cheaped out on their storage casks, or Highland Park before they did the same and started claiming some nonexistent Viking heritage. It's whisky guys; get over yourselves! In my book it falls into two broad categories: drinkable or burn-your-throat nasty. This GlenDronach definitely falls into the first category, and then some.
Single malt whisky the way it used to be made, and proof that it can still be made that way. What more could one want?

19th May 2019

Absolutely gorgeous. I've always thought of myself as an Islay man but this pulling me further east.

12th April 2019

I am not really in these Sherry whisky. I actually do not understand why so many people love that, since it taste a Kind of a mix Between whisky and Porto. Anyway, a friend of mine promessed me this one is not too Sherry and is so well balanced i should like it. I have to admit it is well balanced and quiet good. A nice creamy spicyness, very warm in the throat, long finish. Always to Sherry for my taste, but if you like that, juste buy it.

13th November 2018

I find that most whiskies that depend quite heavily on sherry butts are a bit one note. Not here. GlenDronach 12 has a fantastic depth and a richness that makes it a stand out for me. I'll take this dram any day over so many other bottles. Try it. You won't be sorry.

10th November 2018

My second cherried whisky, and my second whisky disappointment. Nose is nice, though a bit simple. But the taste is just bitterness and nothing else.

11th October 2018

A beautiful sherry expression from this excellent distillery and a real good buy at just under £40 for a 12yo, ncf, natural colour whisky. I've taken half a point off because I would prefer 46% to the 43% - a very minor quibble. This is a well balanced, exceedingly smooth dram with an enticing nose, lovely mouth-feel and a long sherried finish. I've had several bottles previously and this one wont be my last.

2nd October 2018

Despite the reviews and warnings, this doesn't wear its sherry cask on its sleeve; lovely, subtle nose to start, without being too figgy or raisin-y. Gentle, long finish, some vanilla and banana flavours around the edges and just enough heather. A bit of cedar, too. Some sherried offerings have an unbalanced oak edge, but all is kept in check here. Nicely done. I wouldn't take it with a cigar again, but a good bottle. Will stick with my Tomatin 12 or Arran 14 for the times when a real sherry voice is needed, but this was still a great bottle.

19th July 2018

Best Malt ever been enjoying it for years

29th June 2018

Christmas in a bottle; this is a wonderful whisky. A rich, warm dram for a cold dark night or a treat on the pallet for the rest of the year. I'll be back......

21st June 2018

Definitely one of the best in this price range.

1st April 2018

For once I agree with Jim Murray on a sherried malt! This is stunning, and I'm a peat monster fan. Stupendous nose and initial palate of just about every fruit and sweet thing you'd find in a cookie jar, so much going on! I'm comparing it to Glenfarclas 12 and there is no comparison (sorry Jim, but you're wrong on that one). Finish is medium and wonderfully complex, the whole thing is just so vibrant. I'm even getting cocoa in the finish, a hint ever so subtle of a bit of smoke amongst all the vanilla, cherries, peach slices, raisins dark chocolate to name just a few! Buy it again? You bet! This and A'bundah are the two absolutely must have sherry finished malts for me!

23rd January 2018

Having tasted a few drams, this was actually a pleasant find. Beautiful sherried malt. I like to try drams, with a drop of water, chocolate or oatcakes. This was complemented I found with dark chocolate.

22nd December 2017

If you dont like Glendronach either you are a peat head or just plain silly!
Fantastic stuff , let it breathe abit and enjoy its amazing character !

14th December 2017

sweet and flavorful. Like all Glendronach expressions, non-chill filtered, no added color, pretty good for 43 percent ABV.

9th December 2017

Lovely dram, all about the sweet apple pie on the palate. Smooth finish. Perfect at 43%

5th December 2017

Lovely malt. Worth the money.

11th November 2017

My Go to whisky!

3rd May 2017

It's really good, one of the best non caskstrength sherrycasks I've ever had.

31st March 2017

Love this whisky, but dismayed by the recent price increase; in New York it's impossible to find it under $70. Has anyone else noticed a similar jump in price?

28th March 2017

Legit. Smoother than McCallan 12 but with similar notes.

24th March 2017

Moderately complex. Very viscous. Good lasting heat on the back of the tongue.
One of the sweeter single malts. A good dram for the uninitiated to try.
$73.95 Can. At the LCBO in Ontario

10th January 2017

Been waiting a while to try something from this distillery since most of what they offer is a bit pricey here in California but got this as a Christmas gift and I'm really impressed with this. One of my new favorite sherried whiskys for sure loads of dark fruit,creamy vanilla pudding, honey and a hint of smoky chocolate.Incredibly smooth and flavorful I gotta save up and try the 15 year this stuff is delicious.Cheers! The Sugarbear

27th December 2016

This is my first experience with a true single malt scotch whisky and although I have no baseline to compare it to other than Irish and American whiskeys, I am thoroughly pleased and enjoying it immensely. I have yet to develop the knowledge or skills to discern the subtleties of this particular spirit but I have enjoyed it. I find that a little experimentation with resting times and a few drops of water delivers a different experience with every dram.

There is an obvious sweetness and what I guess is a creaminess to the finish, perhaps an attribute of the sherry maturation. No hint of smoke or salt that I can detect. A hint of banana as others have noted, although not a raw banana, more of a banana cream. No harshness or burn to the finish, just a soothing, gentle fade away. It is a whisky that will satisfy a novice's curiosity but not scare them off with an overly complex delivery and experience. I imagine experienced "malties" will also appreciate the pureness of the sherry overtones in a relatively inexpensive caramel free, non-cold filtered spirit selling for about $50 USD.

23rd December 2016

What a dram! And the price makes me smile! This is damn good!

20th December 2016

High viscosity, Legs very slow. Oily.
Nose - very, sweet, heavily Sherried, carmelised sugars, dried fruit, spicey,orange marmalade. If left to air for 30mins or more cereal comes through.
Palate - sweetly, sugary, sherry, fruit, orange marmalade, honey, spicey.
Finish - medium, sherry, orange, fruity, spicey.

9th November 2016

A fine dram this really is a fantastic whisky and you wouldn't go wrong with a bottle of this. I personally prefer the 21 however for the price this really delivers.

1st November 2016

First dram from the bottle is a cherry bomb. Almost too simple. Give it time as you finish the bottle and more complex flavors should reveal themselves. I wasn't sure if I'd like it at first but as I took a few months to finish the bottle I became a fan.

29th August 2016

When I first opened it I was Bombed with stewed fruits. Very sherried. However I let the bottle sit for a few months before I finished it. I definitely enjoyed it more near the end. Maybe my palate adjusted but I was able to detect more complex flavors. Definitely going to try another bottle.

29th August 2016

The taste of this whisky has changed. Remember that Glendronach mothballed its distillery from 1996-2002. The post-2014 bottlings truly are 12 year old whiskies. If you bought this Glendronach 12 bottled in 2013, you were getting a 17 year old whisky as the whisky was distilled and casked in 1996. Those who enjoyed the amazing Glendronach 12 from 2010-2013 were getting a whisky older than the stated age. That is no longer the case.

It is still a great 12 year old whisky. It's just not the value that it once was.

24th May 2016

To the comment below mine- it could be the oxidation process inside an open bottle.
Either way, this is marvelous bang for your buck if you favor a whisky that tastes not unlike a good Kompot.

8th May 2016

I used to like this a lot. But I don't know if my taste changed or whether this whisky got a lot less good. As it stands I would not recommend it.

5th May 2016

Surprising amount of heat, sherry sits back in my opinion. theres sweetness but it's balance, great price point and good entry level dram. A good Whiskey, I prefer the Benriach Sherry cask 12 or 15 year, which is a tiny bit more expensive but this is still a good quality drop.

28th April 2016

This is an excellent sherried scotch and one of the best values in the 12 year range. Not as good as the 15-year-old revival but pretty close. In my opinion, it blows away the Macallan 12 and even rivals the Mac 18 Sherry oak.

19th April 2016

They haven't had time to build up their reputation. I also suspect their whisky might not get as much critical acclaim because it is very heavily sherried and for one thing that segment is overcrowded if there ever was one, for another judges tend to subtract points if the whisky takes over too much of the qualities of the wine, sherry, bourbon or whatever resided in the cask before. But to the point, what I found most remarkable in this dram is that the nose displays a scent very much reminiscent of a well sorted vine cellar. That amalgamation of noble rot, maturing wine and a slight dampness. It's definitely there. To the taste it is fruity and you could be forgiven to think it had a wine finish instead of sherry. Nevertheless it is very enjoyable and a huge bargain if you ask me.

6th March 2016

I've bought the miniature set after my distillery visit and have done a vertical tasting of 12YO Original, 15YO Revival, 18YO Allardice, 21YO Parliament. If you taste them one after the other you would actually be inclined to rate the 12YO slightly lower, because the older expressions are truly, genuinely excellent and the youngest one pales a bit in comparison. But then you have to remember this is an almost entry level expression and very reasonably priced. To be perfectly honest I can't fathom, how Glendronach could be this cheap and low profile, as it is easily up there with the likes of Dalmore, Glenmorangie, dare I say close to Macallan as well. I only have the following two guesses: perhaps because the distillery has reopened a few years ago, they haven't had time

6th March 2016

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!

23rd February 2016

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.

13th January 2016

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.

30th December 2015

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.

15th December 2015

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!

9th December 2015

Full bodied cherried malt with tones of brown sugar and oak wood. Lovely stuff!

6th December 2015

fantastic Sherry price/quality

23rd November 2015

Fit'in the hell are youse gowks on aboot aspartame for, you widna ken yer erse fae yer elbow whaur whisky's concerned..

20th November 2015

Not sure where to begin on this scotch, nose is what you would expect from a sherried single malt. However the first sip is where it went downhill very fast, cloying sweetness with the overwhelming taste of aspartame hits you and sticks in your mouth. I even had trouble wanting to swallow it to be honest. you get a tiny hit of caramel and a slight toffee..ish taste but boy the fake sweetener kills it totally. finish was very bland and short, a massive let down for me as I had been wanting to try this for some time. guys for the money you can pay maybe $5 to $10 more and get a much better scotch, needless to say I will go back to my Doublewood, or Aberlour 12 or shucks even my mac 12. hell even a sip on some J&B would blow this out the water. Awful just awful

14th November 2015

Wauw, this is the first time that I can't praise a product from Glendronach. The nose is okay, pretty linear though. The initial impression on the palate is quite alright and goes down with ease.. but after swallowing/finish... horrible.. paramounting taste of artificial sweetener (not saying that's whats in it)totally ruins the dram.. a sickening sweetness.. could'nt finish my glass.

30th October 2015

A very nice whisky. Caramel and toffee, a little maple syrup. Very heavily sherried. I almost never use water, but this one needs a dash to settle it some. The price is certainly right. But...for nearly the same price I would choose Highland Park 12 any day. Still, a good dram.

28th August 2015

2015 bottling...Extraordinarily balanced. I've a preference for older single malts, but this 12 year old truly realizes the potential of its class. Heavily sherried, yet the lovely imparts of P.X. and oloroso casks do not drown out the very high quality of this single malt. Attention to detail is evident. Well refined, and full of character at 43%, this is one for the connoisseurs.

22nd May 2015

This isn't a bottle you reach for on a special occaision. This is the bottle you reach for on week nights when you just want something nice to sip while watching Netflix. It's a great expression of the style for a very good price. I think you'll find it disappears pretty damned quickly.

12th March 2015

Overall a reasonably complex and finely sherried single malt - but this one needs some time to "air out" and breathe a bit. The first few glasses from my current bottle seemed a bit harsher than some of the GlenDronach whiskies I've had in past years. The finish initially had a rather unpleasant smoke character, akin to sucking on a charcoal briquette. After drinking the bottle down to the top of the label and letting it rest for a week or so, the charcoal aftertaste noticeably diminishes and the real character of this whisky really shines through with its fruity/sherry flavors. If you like sherried whisky, give this one a try.

20th January 2015

it's okay! I don't think its exceptional nor I do think it is that smooth. The finish was a bit rough. would I serve it to guests? Sure. But I don't think it would get 5 stars. In fact, I might just have talked myself into going to the ABC store and getting some Glenfiddich 12 😜

15th January 2015

This is smooth and gentle scotch, the kind that non scotch drinkers can enjoy. You can definitely taste sherry/wine and smell it. However, for me, after drinking, the most important part of a scotch is what i get when I breathe out my nose. This scotch smells like a wet dish cloth. I enjoy the initial flavor but the after taste/smell is such that I can't drink Glendronach 12. FYI, My Favorite scotches Glenmorangie 18, Glengoyne 15, Highland park any, Ardbeg Auriverdes, Laguvulin 16, Bowmore 18

19th December 2014

Very nice whisky if you are on the sweet side, sherry infused with a smooth sweet and sour fruity taste. I didn't pick up any chocolate and hazelnuts like described above but I'm just a novice. Definitely a sweet toffee lingering finish. Worth the money!

18th November 2014

Wifey picked it up for me. She's got good taste and so does this scotch. Smooth

14th November 2014

Someone told me that due to the distillery closing from 96 til 2002 all the whisky that is marked 12 year old is actually 17 or 18 year old as none was produced til march spril 2002. So by that logic this is a v good value 18 year old if bottled in jan 2014. Its a nice story anyway and a lovely drop!!

21st October 2014

I am personally a fan of the peaty smokey stuff, but sometimes I love a smooth dram. I have purchased this as a gift. We cracked it open at a friend's house and tried it out. He runs into the dining room brings out a new decanter with a little Balvenie 17 in it, pours us two good size drams and says this is going into the decanter. Brought another bottle to a bachelor party and everyone (including the non-scotch fans) commented about how smooth it is. If there is a perfect daily dram, especially with a nice Italian meal, this is it. And it ~55$US, you can't beat it. I highly recommend it to rookies, sophomores and veterans of single malts.

11th August 2014

No peat what so ever.....Almost sweet/syrupy.
If it were wine I say it was corked.
Very disappointing.
I'm going back to Oban & Dalwhinney. Even Singleton.

1st August 2014

My favourite whisky so far. Absolutely wonderful. This is why I like whisky.
Great quality for a good prize = I will surely buy another bottle.
I can't wait to try the 15yo.

23rd July 2014

The first couple of glasses were a little rough around the edges, with clear notes of maple syrup. As the whisky has mellowed since I opened it a few months ago, the sweetness has become more powerful with strong brown sugar notes on the nose, transitioning to a much crisper syrupy body. Definitely hits the sweet tooth.

11th May 2014

In a perfect world this expression is what every scotch single malt should be like. This release is WHY I drink whisky.

27th April 2014

Plain and simple comment here. Great, sweet, smooth, Sherry infused whiskey. Tastes very nice. Great for the collection, and wonderful for new whiskey lovers. Enjoy my friends :)

18th April 2014

I taste a bit of peat hidden somewhere mixed with in the fruit flavors. Not too sweet, good length finish, nice grainy bite.

11th April 2014

A wonderful Sherry malt. Super sweet, very rich. If you want to suggest glenlivet 12 or the Glenfiddich, consider suggestion this one. A great intro scotch, and a great light, rich dram.

5th April 2014

Very drinkable sherried dram; go for the GelnDronach 15 year which is much more intense

28th February 2014

It has been a long time since I had a GlenDronach, last time in 75cl bottle, and it is just as delightful as I remembered. Definitely going to order some more.

3rd February 2014

I love this Sherried Speysider. I have yet to taste a better 12 year-old of this style. IMO better than Aberlour 12 and Macallan Gold. It's just a pity that MOM have added an extra £5 to the price since I last bought it.

19th December 2013

After being a long-time fan of Macallan, but sorely disappointed with the last few bottles of their Sherried offerings I've had, I decided it was time for a change. Tried a dram of this and ordered two bottles. Looking forward to a bit over fire-side sipping over Christmas!

29th November 2013

Whilst not going to threaten the whiskey podium... this is a lovely lovely whiskey. A fan of sherried and port finishes... this is one of the better ones. Jason Breen

1st November 2013

A go to Scotch for me. Nice value for the buck. Heavy Sherry with a raisiny...Christmas pudding thing going on.Some toffee and spice with a medium long finish. No peat...yeah. A touch better than the Macallan 12 for me.

25th September 2013

Nice stuff....definate must have

16th September 2013

Medium to heavy sherry influence. Nutty and christmas cake taste. Touch of chocolate and peat. Awesome stuff and a must have. Love it to the MAX.

13th September 2013

I agree with all the comments. This is a good whisky to drink, sweet but not too sweet, nice after taste too. Would I buy another bottle? Yes

30th August 2013

I bought the 12 and 15 Revival. I would suggest the 15 Revival for a few more $.

12th June 2013

A great choice for an everyday sipper for the Sherry Scotch fan. Awesome fruity nose, big flavor and lasting finish. 3 and a half stars, maybe 4.

6th February 2013

Quality stuff for fans of sherry monster Scotch fans. Big interesting nose and a full creamy mouthfeel. I will have one in the cabinet at all times when the mood strikes.

6th February 2013

Enjoyed it very much! Great sherried whisky with a little punch. A nice desert...

27th January 2013

At the moment number one for me!

19th November 2012

This is beautiful - the sherry leaves a lovely aftertaste and makes you want ot get stuck into this amazing world of single malts even more!

1st October 2012

Very drinkable, quite complex nose with lots of well integrated sherry, great palate giving a juicy sensation (a bit like Highland Park) with satysfying finish. With a great quality for value I really recommend this dram.

28th September 2010