The GlenDronach Distillery has revealed the depths of its sherry cask mastery with its latest release, The GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 11.
Hidden away in the east Highland Hills in the fertile landscape of the Forgue Valley is The GlenDronach, one of Scotland’s oldest licensed distilleries. Almost two centuries ago, the distillery founder, James Allardice, decided to marry Highland spirit with Spanish oak, resulting in a richly sherried single malt. His discovery proved so popular that in the 1860s, it was the largest paying distillery in the Scottish highlands, with more than fifty people (workers and families) living on the site.
Although ownership of the distillery has changed hands a few times during the past two hundred years, its current owner, the Brown-Forman Corporation, is continuing to add to the distillery’s high-quality whisky portfolio, and a perfect example of this is the new release.
About The GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 11
The GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 11 tasting notes:
On the nose: Mulled cranberry, orange and clove liqueur meld with dark honeyed treacle on a base of nutty oak.
On the palate: Richly spiced bramble wine and treacle toffee interweave with chocolate raisin, cinnamon maple and sultana.
The finish: Lingering Seville orange peel and nutmeg layered with caramel and maraschino cherry.
The GlenDronach’s richly-sherried Highland Single Malts are well known for their colours. Cask Strength Batch 11 continues this tradition and boasts a deep bronze colour.
Another of the core components in GlenDronach’s current-day success is Dr Rachel Barrie, a person we’ve written about extensively over recent years. In 2016, Rachel Barrie became the Master Blender of The GlenDronach, Benriach and Glenglassaugh distilleries, bringing with her more than a quarter of a century’s experience in crafting fine Scotch whisky, and since then, she’s continued to cement GlenDronach’s legacy for future generations.
Rachel said, “This eleventh batch of The GlenDronach Cask Strength embodies The GlenDronach‘s celebrated style of Spanish Oak maturation in fine Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía.
“Add a drop or two of water to this latest expression to reveal a cornucopia of flavour – from richly spiced bramble wine and treacle toffee to lingering Seville orange peel and nutmeg layered with caramel and maraschino cherry.”
Cask Strength Batch 11 has an ABV of 59.8% and is priced at £68 (Global markets may vary). You can read more information on the new release and see their other products at www.glendronachdistillery.com.
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