GlenDronach Original 12 Year

Fruity and spicy with balanced notes of fig, dark berries and baking spices. I can taste the finish very well. I think this is a quintessential staple for anyone who likes Scotch or whiskey in general to keep on their shelf.

Nose: fresh fruit and butterscotch. Taste: sweet and oaky, some butterscotch on the tail end. Finish: sweet with slight dried fruit influence. Short finish. I got this at a bar so I'm not sure what bottling I received or if it was just a very old, opened bottle. It was quite average but still enjoyable (maybe 2.75-3), but given its reputation and price it was disappointing and bland which is why I rated it with a lower score.

Chocolate caramel and Wood. Not sure I’ve ever had anything this easy to drink.

GlenDronach 12 is my first from the distillery that I received from a family member for my last birthday. GlenDronach 12 is aged in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks for a minimum of 12 years. The intial nose is softly sherried. It opens up nicely with subtle oak and notes of vanilla, baked goods and maple syrup, like a stack of fresh pancakes. After ~15 minutes, the nose settles with sweet stewed plums, allspice and ginger. This has a spicy first sip in a way that seems more effective at jolting me awake than my morning coffee. A rush of spices wash through an oily baseline of sultana raisin, sherry and subtle brine. A tannic, lightly drying finish lingers with cherry, pepper and bitter oak. This is an enjoyable sherry cask whisky without being too sweet. I like the pairing of spiciness with enough body and viscosity to support its strength. This might not be my daily go-to, but I appreciate the balance it has for a bold, fruity dram. 7.75/10