GlenDronach Original 12 Year

This is delicious whiskey. Big sherry bomb but not complex. worth the price.

Simply my favorite. Smooth, soft and long. Sweet Sherry, vanilla, Dark druity notes.

I’ve had this one on my list for months wanting to try it, so here we go. Now technically this is the second time I’ve had this whisky, but it’s my first time reviewing it and really getting a chance to explore it. I had a dram of it at a bar not too long ago, but the rocks glass it was in and the atmosphere made it a little distracting to unpack the whisky. GlenDronach is something I’ve had a strong feeling I would enjoy since I first heard about it. A heavily sherry-influenced malt aged in PX and Oloroso casks. Comes in at 43% and it’s neither chill-filtered nor has coloring added. Poured the full 50ml mini into my brand-new copita(breaking it in with this review). It’s got a lovely straw/hay color to it. Rested it around ten minutes or so before tasting, nosing it a few times while I waited. Nose: The first thing I pick up in the nose is some citrus peel, orange if I had to choose. Definitely finding some oak in here. Another few sniffs and I’m finding some candied fruits as well as some stewed darker fruits. Some vanilla sprinkled in here, very natural like a freshly split bean-pod. There’s a beautiful sweetness to the nose, not overpowering or cloying just really nice. (Mental note: could have sworn I was smelling some dark chocolate when I had this at the bar. But not finding it now; maybe I’m crazy) Palate: The citrus I found in the nose has disappeared and given way to more of those stewed fruits. I definitely get more oak and some spiciness on the palate as well. That lovely sweetness is still there giving the whisky an almost juicy mouthfeel. Finish: A great long finish on this whisky. Not quite the length of Aberlour A’bunadh but it hangs around a while. It unfolds as some lasting sweetness, then spice and oak, then fades away with a little more sweetness. Value/Overall Opinion: I am happy with my decision to buy a mini of this whisky to try it out. Locally to me a normal bottle would cost me just under $70, and I think I’d pay that. Now I could spend about $12 more and get a cask strength Aberlour A’bunadh, but this is still quite nice. A fine dram for sure and this definitely gets me excited to try some other expressions from GlenDronach.