Today new Glendronach 18 vs… we’ll see


September 26, 2024

WF’s Little Duos, today new Glendronach 18 vs… we’ll see

Enthusiasts have always enjoyed discussing the changes in Glendronach's core range, I don't know why.

Glendronach's stillhouse in 2003 (MM Archive, Craig)

Glendronach 18 yo 'Sherry Cask Matured' (46%, OB, 2024)

New look! Matured in Oloroso. They mention ‘Spanish oak casks’ on the label, but I’ve always thought that term could be a tad misleading (not just with Glendronach, mind). What exactly is ‘Spanish’ here, the oak, the casks, or both? That said, we were quite fond of the previous 18-year-old ‘Allardice’ (around 86 points), though it didn’t exactly have us swinging from the rafters – we used to prefer the 15-year-old. Colour: amber. Nose: there’s that Mars bar and millionaire’s shortbread note, followed by a hint of tar and damp earth. It’s got that dunnage warehouse feel, which I rather like. Then, as expected, the walnut wine shows up, with a touch of mustard and clove, before we nose into an old tin of black tea. Nothing to complain about. Mouth: perhaps a touch less precise, opening on peppered chocolate and espresso, moving into Catalan rancio, old walnuts, brown tobacco, and finally, oranges. The texture is a bit lighter than I anticipated, but it all works beautifully. Finish: medium length, with black tea, walnuts, and chocolate with a coffee edge. Comments: I’m not sure if it’s full-on Oloroso maturation or a three-year rerack or so, but I think it’s very well done. For my money, there’s absolutely no reason to think it’s any less good than the Allardice – and hey, I rather prefer the new look.
SGP:561 - 87 points.

Let’s find a worthy sparring partner...

Glendronach 1996/2010 (57.2%, Malts of Scotland, sherry butt, cask #195, 287 bottles)

Don’t ask me why we’re only getting around to this beauty now—I haven’t the faintest idea. Forgotten backlog, I suppose. Colour: deep reddish amber. Nose: full-on sherry, massive and earthy with a lovely mentholated, almost medicinal character. Loads of camphor, a cedar cigar box (fully stocked, of course), fermented figs, aged pinot noir, cherry liqueur, a hint of turpentine, and linseed oil… I find it rather astounding, and it seems to have improved over its fourteen years in glass. With water: old fabrics, pepper, figs, prunes, and a touch of Ténarèze. Mouth (neat): superb, very much in line with the nose, showing mint, camphor, chocolate, kirsch-soaked cherries, cracked pepper, bitter oranges, and quinine… It’s truly magnificent. With water: unstoppable. Even earthier, more on cloves and juniper… and black pepper chocolate. Finish: very long, so powerful it almost seems peated. Or nearly so. Seville oranges linger on the aftertaste. Comments: I’m not sure this incredible dram was quite like this in 2010. A proper sherry monster, in every sense.
SGP:562 - 91 points.

Check the index of all Glendronach we've tasted so far