The GlenDronach Distillery has announced the US arrival of four casks from Batch 18 of its Cask Bottling collection. Eighteen casks dating from 1990 to 2009 have been personally selected by Master Blender Rachel Barrie, specially chosen for their exceptional character, to celebrate and share some of the finest Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Highland distillery. This is the first time the US has received these highly-anticipated Cask Bottling releases.
Whether they have previously housed sweet and rich Pedro Ximénez, dry and nutty Oloroso, or in selected expressions fruit-laden Port from the Douro Valley; each cask presents uniquely remarkable characteristics while remaining distinctively of The GlenDronach.
The GlenDronach Cask Bottling Batch 18 collection as a whole features a variety of cask types and maturation periods. The US releases include cask bottlings from 1990, 1994, 2005 and 2008; bottled from Oloroso, Pedro Ximenez, and Port Pipe casks.
The distillery’s newly enhanced tasting bar will be the only location in the world where all eighteen bottles will be available to try by the dram.
“The GlenDronach Cask Bottling Batch 18 is a celebration of the distillery’s time-honored mastery and a showcase of the finest of what this richly-sherried Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has to offer,” said Master Blender Rachel Barrie. “This long standing, much loved release is a focal point to each year, demonstrating the exquisite character of our whiskies, through these exceptional casks which I have carefully hand-selected. Each cask individually explores the sophistication, powerful intricacy and rich layers of Spanish sherry cask maturation found in every expression of The GlenDronach.
“From the rare vintage casks of 1990 with exquisite layers of dark chocolate and the elegant Victoria plum, date and bramble preserve notes in the 1992 Port Pipe, to the distinctive fruitcake and toasted raisin notes in the 2009 Pedro Ximénez Puncheon, each cask encapsulates The GlenDronach house style; robust, elegant and full-bodied. All eighteen casks are bottled without chill filtration for richness, at high strength and are naturally deep in colour.”
The below four casks of Whisky are now available for purchase nationwide. Depending on the expression, the ABV ranges from 51.4% to 59.8%. As with all The GlenDronach expressions, each is non-chill filtered and draws all its natural color from the cask in which it rests.
Tasting Notes:
2008 CASK 3017 ($120)
- Aged: 12 years
- Cask Type: Oloroso puncheon
- Color: Warm autumn gold
- Nose: Candied fruit, spiced vanilla and sandalwood with caramelized Sultana raisins and mixed nuts
- Palate: Honeyed mead and orange marmalade on toast with ground nutmeg, ginger and lingering dark vanilla
- ABV: 59.8%
- Bottles Produced: 628
2005 CASK 1928 ($150)
- Aged: 14 years
- Cask Type: Pedro Ximénex puncheon
- Color: Honeyed gold
- Nose: Sweet ginger, morello cherry and cinnamon spice with mocha, wild raspberry and mint
- Palate: Seville orange, blackberry and cherry cake, with gingerbread, sweet malt, spice and dark chocolate mint
- ABV: 58%
- Bottles Produced: 612
1994 CASK 5287 ($415)
- Aged: 26 years
- Cask Type: Port pipe
- Color: Chestnut gold
- Nose: Highland toffee and walnut with dark chocolate truffle and the seductive scent of an earthen-floored warehouse
- Palate: Walnut and black truffle with lingering toffee, cocoa and dark bramble fruit
- ABV: 51.3%
- Bottles Produced: 638
1993 CASK 7102 ($600)
- Aged: 27 years
- Cask Type: Oloroso puncheon
- Color: Treacle
- Nose: Spiced bramble and toasted cinnamon with dark vanilla, walnut and the subtle fragrance of Oloroso cream sherry
- Palate: Morello cherry, mixed spice and raisin with lingering treacle, date and ginger fruitcake
- ABV: 51.4%
- Bottles Produced: 633