Glendronach 1996/2010 (for De Monnik Dranken)
Time for another Glendronach, the kings of sherried whiskies nowadays. In The Netherlands it is De Monnik Dranken who import Glendronach. And every once in a while Glendronach bottles a single cask for their importers, like this one from 1996.
It has spent fourteen years in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon and yielded a total of 708 bottles. Expect a sherry bomb!
Glendronach 1996/2010 (54,2%, OB for De Monnik Dranken, C# 1480)
Nose: Some intense, concentrated sweetness with cherries and raisins, but balanced by some balsamic vinegar, tobacco leaves and soy. Also quite meaty, with the slightest touch of sulphur. The good kind. Delicious
Taste: Some mocha and espresso, with really dark chocolate, cherries and black berries. Also molasses and toffee, with a touch of aniseed. Big and bold, but never over the top.
Finish: More of the same sherry goodness. Long.
Rating: 90
One hell of a cask this must’ve been, to infuse the spirit with this much richness after fourteen years of aging.
Thijs is a spirits writer and accredited liquorist from The Netherlands. He runs the blog Words of Whisky and contributes to a number of Dutch and international publications.
You don’t find the their PX’s just a tad too cloying, Thijs? Is this one an exception? And you make it sound surprisingly complex for a 14yr old single cask…
I find their ex-Oloroso offerings are more subtle & complexer, even at this age.
Oh well, horses for courses 🙂