GlenDronach Original 12 Year

Quite a nice dram, the amber color sets the mood right. On the nose you already get the impact of the sherry casks with a vanilla and caramel sweetness (almost like the icing on a cinnamon bun, to be oddly precise). It’s not overly powerful, but the medium-bodied flavor is fairly rich. Strong in toffee, caramel (caramel apples specifically), raisins, and other dried fruits. Very good value, definitely good quality and flavor for the price point.

As expected, the nose is preeminently sherried, a creamy and warm apple pie with a generous sprinkling of cinnamon, raisins infused in alcohol, chocolate, cereals, strawberry jam. A pinch of ginger to break this sweet explosion. Nothing complex or layered, but very pleasant. Accompanied still by ginger, the palate reflects the sweet soul of the whisky, finding the chocolate together with caramel, red fruits, malt biscuits, hazelnuts (and walnuts), orange marmalade, licorice. The sweetness is balanced by the bitter and metallic point of the dried fruit, in a perfect balance even in such a young whisky. Medium finish, with hazelnuts, licorice, malt. A simple but not trivial whisky, capable of showing a certain balance in the aromas in its youth, presenting itself as a pleasant daily drink without pretensions but not boring.

Very smooth and tasty. Easy to enjoy.

This has been on my list and anyone with experience has been touting it pretty good. Well...it’s everything it’s been made out to be. Super rich dark fruits but still kind of sparkly. A solid sherried whisky!