GlenDronach Original 12 Year

Beautiful color of rich copper. The nose reveals the Pedro Ximénez quite conspicuously; I smell overripe red grapes, honey, heavy malt, and it's pleasantly musty and sweet smelling. Incredible taste: rich Highland malt, sweet red grapes, pecans, nutmeg, baked peaches, barrel spices; and later, sticky sweet fruitiness along the lines of dates and dried cherries. There is a fairly tart and tannic mouthfeel at play, with a refreshing minerality. The finish returns to spiced raisins and malt and offers a lengthy, honeyed burn. This is a special Highland dram — a more-than-qualified spokesperson for the region.