| The
GlenDronach Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Forgue, by Huntly
Aberdeenshire AB54 6DB Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)1466 730 202 / Fax: +44(0)1466 730 313
Viewer's Comments about The Glendromach
 When
GlenDronach opened its doors in 1826, many Scottish single
malts were matured in Spanish sherry casks. However over the
years the ever-increasing rarity and price (they are over
10 times as expensive as ‘standard’ barrels!)
has seen a major switch to American Bourbon barrels by the
whisky industry. Indeed today there are perhaps only 2 distilleries
that can truly be classified as ‘sherry maturation’
houses and only one where 100% of the single malt sold still
enjoys its primary maturation exclusively in sherry casks.
We are proud to be that distillery.
Even today if you were to wander around our distillery
you would be transported back into the great Victorian era
of whisky production. Walk along the line of Oregon pine
washbacks fermenting away and smell the damp air in the
original stone dunnage maturation warehouses as you walk
past line upon line of Spanish Oloroso butts quietly giving
up their ‘share’ to the angels. Our coal fired
furnaces are no longer in operation due to health and safety
rules, however, the GlenDronach Distillery was the last
distillery in Scotland to use them.
As you cross the Dronach burn back to the old manor house,
you are walking in the footsteps of James Allardice himself,
our founder and mentor. He coined the phrase ‘The
guid GlenDronach’ and was a stickler for tradition.
170 years on we see no reason to doubt his wisdom or his
words.
Our primary expression of the GlenDronach® is a 12 year
old. It is of course matured in sherry casks for 12 years
but then ‘finished’ in American oak. This has
the effect of marrying the sherry notes with the creamy
vanilla tones that American oak offers. It is a beautifully
smooth Highland whisky – as you would expect from
one of the original ‘grand distilleries’ of
the early 1800s. It was in fact the highest duty paying
distillery in Highlands in the 1860s.
Does this mean we have turned our back on our founder and
100% sherry-matured malts? Of course not! However today it
is increasingly a style appreciated by real connoisseurs of
whisky. Producing top quality, sherry-matured whisky is a
true distiller's art. If the raw spirit does not have the
right balance of flavours then the finished product will end
up dominated by the sweetness imparted by the sherry butts.
GlenDronach are the experts in this tricky balancing act.
In one respect however, we are no different to all other
distilleries – in distilling there is always ‘the
unknown’. From time to time a batch of whisky is produced
that for some unexplained reason is ‘special’
we put these casks to one side and allow them to mature
further until we believe they have reached their level of
perfection. In our experience top quality, sherry matured
whisky requires a far longer maturation period compared
to conventional malts. In some cases it is just a few more
years. Others require longer. Many people still talk wistfully
about our last limited release the 25 year old expression,
now sadly all gone.
However...Sitting in a corner of our traditional stone
maturation house was an even older batch. Only now has the
time been deemed right to awaken the whisky from its long
sleep and bottle it. How long has it been sleeping? Thirty
three long years!
We believe that ‘The 33’ is the finest expression
of GlenDronach ever made. The sherry butts have imparted
their luscious flavour which is perfectly counter balanced
by the classic fruitiness of the GlenDronach spirit. The
finish is long as you would expect, with that trademark
hint of peat smoke that our kilns imparted all those years
ago.
 To
celebrate 'The 33’ we have specially commissioned
a circular wood enclosure, hand made with a hand finished
lacquer exterior, with a colour that matches the deep red
hue of its precious contents.
The GlenDronach Distillery was acquired by Chivas Brothers
by the Larbert-based BenRiach
Distillery Company in August 2008.
Courtesy of The GlenDronach Distillery |
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THE GlenDronach 12 YEAR
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY Double matured
- first in sherry casks, then for a final period
in first fill American oak - This has the effect
of marrying the sherry notes with the creamy vanilla
tones that American oak offers.
The 12 Year Old GlenDronach is a perfectly balanced,
smooth, creamy, full-bodied single malt scotch whisky.
Appearance
Deep amber-red gold.
Nose
Sweet, creamy vanilla, with hints of ginger. Spiced
mulled wine and pear.
Palate
Rich, creamy, silky-smooth. Warm, rich oak and sherry
sweetness, full mouth feel, raisins and soft fruits.
Spicy with medium length and a dry finish.
Conclusions
Long, full and firm, slightly nutty. |
THE GlenDronach 15 YEAR
REVIVAL SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Renowned amongst many whisky enthusiasts
around the world, this remarkable and full bodied
malt is matured for a minimum of 15 years in the
finest Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at 46%, the
GlenDronach Revival is non chill filtered and
of natural colour. A truly excellent single malt.
Expression
Revival - 15 Year Old
Appearance
Deep gold with a lovely mahogony heart.
Nose
Incredible concentration of aromas. Treacle toffee
and chocolate orange.
Palate
A very dynamic and full bodied dram for its age.
Chewy with coffee chocolate and treacle scones.
Conclusions
A veritable feast to enliven the senses.
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THE GlenDronach 18 YEAR
ALLARDICE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY The
famous GlenDronach 18 year old, now renamed Allardice,
is the third expression in the GlenDronach core
range. This exceptional single sherried malt is
non chill filtered and of natural colour. Matured
in the finest Spanish Oloroso sherry casks and bottled
at 46%, this sublime richly sherried malt is truly
unforgettable.
Appearance
Bright deep gold with a tawny centre.
Nose
Sweet aromatics of fudge and muscovado sugar. Fruit
compote and glacier morello cherries provide added
complexity.
Palate
Rich dark and seductive. Remarkable flavours of
stewed fruits and all-spice marry together with
classical aged Oloroso and toasted walnut bread
and chocolate orange.
Conclusions
Tremendously complex and long.
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THE GlenDronach 33 YEAR
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
The GlenDronach 33 year old is regarded by many
as one of the distilleries greatest releases.
Matured in the finest Spanish Oloroso sherry casks,
this exquisite malt scored 88/100 in the 2008
malt maniac awards and was described by Jim Murray
as a 'Golden nugget of a dram'. This sublime whisky
is not to be missed.
Appearance
Rich mahogany with a distinctive tawny heart.
Viscous and syrupy.
Nose
Pronounced and sweet. Huge and aromatic with a
combination of sweet stewed fruits, nuts and chocolate
fondant. Alluring.
Palate
This displays real elegance and exudes class.
A myriad of spiced fruits drizzled in bitter chocolate
sauce. This fronts a second wave of flavours including
walnut cake and mocha. Rich and unctuous to the
core. An alcoholic liquid dessert.
Conclusions
A masterful dram which pleases the most jaded
of palates. Fantastic stuff!
All Tasting Notes Courtesy of The GlenDronach
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The
GlenDronach Whisky Distillery
GlenDronach's founder, James Allardes, was
a frequent guest of the 5th Duke of Gordon who was largely
responsible for the Excise Act of 1823 which was instrumental
in creating the modern malt whisky industry. The GlenDronach
Distillery has had various owners over the years, including
Captain Charles Grant, younger son of William Grant of Glenfiddich
farne, who purchased it from the Crown in 1920. It remained
in that branch of the Grant family until 1960, when George
Grey Grant sold
it to Wm Teacher & Sons Ltd. GlenDronach is currently
owned by Pernod-Ricard. They had acquired it from Allied
Domecq in partnership with Fortune Brands.
The Distillery is situated straddling the Dronach Burn in
the valley of Forgue, which supplies the cooling water.
It is nestled within tall trees where an established colony
of rooks is said to bring luck.
In 1966 & 1967, GlenDronach was extended from two stills
to four.
Distilling was undoubtedly carried out in the area in the
days before legal distilling came to GlenDronach and the
noisy rooks would have proved a useful ally to warn of approaching
strangers - especially excise officers. Built in the form
of a square and covering four acres, GlenDronach is one
of the few distilleries where barley is still malted on
a malting floor, providing about 15% of the distillery's
requirement. It also has coal-fired stills. GlenDronach
is one of the most important constituents of Teacher's
Highland Cream Scotch whisky.
Visitor Centre
There are guided tours of the distillery - daily at 10.00am,
11.00am, 1.00pm, 2.00pm and 3.00pm. They cost just £3
and all visitors receive a dram of the GlenDronach twelve-year-old
at the end. Note: After suffering two damaging floods in
2009, the new GlenDronach Distillery Visitor Centre at Forgue
reopened Easter weekend 2010.
Group Bookings
Maximum of 50 people by appointment
Contact Us
The GlenDronach Distillery
Forgue, by Huntly
Aberdeenshire AB54 6DB Scotland
Distillery Office +44 (0)1466 730202
Email: GlenDronach
Distillery
Courtesy of The GlenDronach Distillery
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