GlenDronach Revival 15 Year (2009-2015)

The nose on this is initially closed, but with a little water it opens up a bit: vanilla, mild grape, some mustiness, a little nutty, some glue and maybe a hint of indistinct pastry shop. As bottle oxidizes you also get Luxardo cherries in syrup and maple donuts. Palate is initially sharp and softens with a little water: mild vanilla, brown sugar, white pepper, maybe some cereal grain, and a little apple at the end. As bottle oxidizes you also get a ton of buttery maple syrup. Finish is malt, cereal, a little apple and more white pepper. With oxidation the finish gains that Luxardo cherry again on the tail end and pepper lingers longer. Not a bad sherried single malt, but I don’t get the hype. Update: after bottle oxidizes for a few months it gets massively better. I upped score to a 4 because it takes on a heavy vanilla, maple syrup palate that is dessert like. This bottle needs time to really get to its best.

Nice and smooth, round taste.