I was truly happy to have received a bottle of this U.K. exclusive bottle of GlenDronach 8 year old for my birthday from my good friend @LeeEvolved I opened it on my birthday back in October and have been enjoying it these last few weeks. The Hielan’ is bottled at 46% ABV and is non chill filtered and natural color of yellow gold. Matured in a combination of sherry and bourbon casks, which is a departure from the full sherry maturation that GlenDronach is famous for. Let’s see what Mr. Billy Walker can do with 8 year old stock. Before I get into the nosing notes, I have to put everyone on notice that this is what I call a “slow breather”. This must be breathed in very slowly to truly absorb everything that is going on. Breathe in too fast and it’s all a jumble. Some whiskies I’ve found must be nosed rather aggressively to get the best experience, but not this one. Rich, dark and fruity sherry greets you on the nose. Apricots, honeyed dates, raisins, figs, and tangerines. Cinnamon, buttered pancakes drenched in syrup. Intense oak that shifts from elegant to sharp and spicy and then back again, with enough wood spice to balance out the sweetness. Milk chocolate, salted caramels, full on sherry with almost no trace of the bourbon casks. Creamy vanilla, grassy, almonds and hazelnut. Red berries and chocolate oranges. The bourbon notes start to show after some time to breathe in the form of mint, fennel and more cinnamon. This is immensely complex for its age and makes me wonder if any casks were used that were significantly older than 8 years. The palate is spicy, a hallmark of the GlenDronach profile. Strong black tea and dark sherry notes. Chocolate, anise, dark caramel. Darker fruits like dates, raisins, prunes, grapes and black cherries. Red wine notes, spicy oak and a faint bourbon feel. Cloves and cinnamon, heavily toasted nuts, ginger and apricots. The palate is a bit harsh at times which reflects on its youth, but I have to say it is most enjoyable. A medium to full bodied mouthfeel that is creamy and transitions from mouthwatering to dry. The finish is medium length with sherry, oak, wood spice and is dry. The spice lingers on for quite a while. This may be an 8 year old scotch, but it is not a young scotch. I suspect 12-15 year old stock is being added to a majority of 8 year old stock. The bourbon maturation is a new dimension for GD (that I know of anyway) and I think it adds some depth. It’s a real shame that this isn’t available outside of the U.K., and for a ridiculously low price of around $36 I’m not sure why anyone wouldn’t buy this by the case. GlenDronach has become one of my favorite Highland distilleries and The Hielan’ is a feather in their cap. Thanks again Lee, I don’t need to tell you how good this was. The occasional harshness on the palate hurts the score a little, but it’s still a solid 4. Cheers