LouisianaLonghorn
GlenDronach The Hielan' 8 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
April 12, 2020 (edited May 1, 2020)
So, I gave up drinking for Lent. Today's Easter. Despite the global pandemic, I made it the 40+ days through the wilderness watching y'all post one great review after another while resisting the temptation to raid my own cabinet.
After such a drought, what do you pour for yourself? Macallan 18? Glendronach 21? Wild Turkey Rare Breed? No folks, instead I present to you the humble Glendronach 8 Year Old, "The Hielan'".
This pour is a Europe exclusive for Glendronach, and in a departure from their typical sherry monster aging process, this one is aged in a combination of bourbon and sherry barrels (more on that later). Since I don't live in Europe, I ordered it from Fine Drams (the only online retailer that'll ship to Texas...) for a grand total of $32. A bargain for Glendronach. It comes out of the bottle a remarkable golden amber color, is not chill-filtered, natural color, and bottled at 46%. I'm reviewing a neck pour here, and I'm planning on this opening up more over time, with subsequent reviews to follow.
The nose reveals classic Glendronach spice and creamy malt. It's similar to the GD 12 Year, but with more caramel and vanilla from the bourbon barrels. It's more spirit-forward too; not surprising given it's young age, and I'm guessing that the vatting had more bourbon barrels than sherry barrels, as the sherry influence is hardly noticeable on the nose, which is unusual for GD, typically known for their sherry monsters.
As I tip it back, the palate is coating and creamy; classic GD profile, but it's light and effervescent. Hardly any fruit. The finish comes in soft at first, but the proof eventually catches up, leaving a slightly astringent note that lingers, albeit not an unpleasant one. There's the sherry barrels. That astringency is likely from tired, refill sherry casks that once held more heavy-hitting Glendronach spirits. The bottle doesn't specify what type of sherry this one is aged in, stark in comparison the the 12, 15, 18, 21, or pretty much anything else they put out.
I don't have a final verdict for this one yet. I'm gonna let it sit and open up. It's not bad, or poorly made; rather, it's a challenging and compelling dram, that strips away the sherry veneer of Glendronach's usual offerings and showcases their robust, spicy Highland spirit. This bottle certainly isn't for everyone. Glendronach fans need not apply. What this pour did serve to do in it's initial outing for me was to highlight more of the distillery's spirit character and help me discern it better in their other offerings, thereby enhancing the overall GD experience. 3.75 for now, but I expect this will go up with time, oxidation, and patient exploration. Cheers.
32.0
USD
per
Bottle
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@WhiskeyLonghorn Very nice review! Time to catch up with all the reviews I missed due to my COVID-19 infection. I didn't even know that this bottle is not available in the US, I wonder why?
Now youre drinking on my schedule lol
Final update at bottle kill. As expected: dangerously drinkable. Between the lockdown and the pent up energy from not drinking for a month and a half, this bottle barely lasted a week. If you’re a big GD fan, seek this one out. Maybe one day it’ll be available in the States. My rating holds, as this was consistent from neck pour to bottom drop.
@Rosencrantz I agree. That being said, I’m finding this bottle dangerously drinkable. Can’t remember the last time I went through a bottle so quickly!
Mid-bottle update. This has opened up over the course of the week, and I’ve found that around 2 tsp of water really helps mellow this one and open it up. In general, the younger the whisky, the more water it needs. Can’t help but wonder if this would be better bottles at 43%. More creamy and less astringent on the finish now. Very consistent with the GD profile. Still wish they’d sell this in the US.
I had more or less the same impression, it's like having a "GlenDronach to be", you can see their character there yet in developing.
@Rick_M thanks man! Certainly worth the wait, though I can’t quite figure out why GD calls this part of their core range but won’t release it in the US. It clearly has merit, even if it’s aged in refill casks and an attempt to relieve pressure on what I assume is dwindling older stock. At least they created a product with integrity rather than putting another subpar NAS on the market.
@WhiskeyLonghorn - Well done! Hope it was worth the wait.