GlenDronach 1990 27 Year Sherry Butt Single Cask #2257

In the past, I've always ended up a taste of any Gelndronachs with an apology. This time, at my great trepidation and sorrow, I'll do the same. Sorry guys, I guess I am just not a Glendronach fan. There's simply too much spice on those drams and age is not something that helps it.

So, i managed to get my hands on a super Glendronach once again. This time one of the amazing Single Cask vintage expressions: a 27yo (plus those 6 years of every Glendronach), matured solely in a Pedro Ximenez Puncheon. Bottled at 50.9%abv, bottle 397 out of 641, barrel #1014. First, anything matured in a Pedro Ximenez cask immidiately catches my attention since i have a sweet tooth. Lets start reviewing the notes: On the nose, once again my dear Glendronach friend, you are perfect. Dates, figs, blackberries, raisins (so perfect and clean note), dehydrated fruits, you get the idea. There is this glazed pork note, Bbq sauce note, simply amazing (can i dip a nugget on it?). Maraschino cherries, chocolate milk powder. Sherry. Thick caramel, plums. After the first sip, it transformed into an amazing maple syrup note. Hanuta snack (hazelnut), milk chocolate.... and.... bloody mary cocktail??? On the palate, it is great. Starts super sweet, with a maraschino cherry flavor. Lots of red fruits. Pepper surrounds everything. Blackberries. Very astringent. Thick caramel. Aftertaste is a proper conclusion to a wonderful whisky. Smoke, red fruits and tobacco. Very mineral. A long ginger mouthfeel that lasts forever. Overall, this is one great whisky. It is what a Glendronach must be. Maybe it lacks the normal dark chocolate, but it replaced it with lots of red fruits. Great expression, for me, it is a 98 over 100. Sláinte Mhath!!!

Cask 7902. Whisky Exchange Sample. A lovely dessert dram with notes of raisins, dates, figs, toffee, tropical fruit, Christmas spices, vanilla, and chocolate .

Nose: I am leaning over a vat of liquid raisins and oranges. Palate: Oh dear, I’ve fallen it. These raisins and oranges taste very rich, yet somehow more dry than sweet. Finish: Melted chocolate wrapped in marmalade. Long and elegant. I appear to be drowning, but there are worse ways to go. This was one of two single casks that I sampled at a recent BenRiach/GlenDronach tasting event, and at $1,200 a bottle one of the most expensive whiskies I’ve tried. If you’re on the fence about spending that kind of money on liquor, then you should consider that this bottle will last you longer than normal because its flavor is so concentrated. A mere half ounce should provide more than enough complexity to last an evening. At this age, the flavor leans very heavily on the sherry cask, of course, which isn’t entirely my preferred style, but it feels churlish to find faults. Incidentally, I was in the minority in the room that preferred this to the other single cask, a 24 year old, which goes for a mere $750.

Strong notes of dried fruit and winter spice. Few drops of water calms the strength down.

1998