GlenDronach releases Batch 12 of its popular single cask bottlings.
GlenDronach 1972 43 Year Old cask no. 706GlenDronach has today released Batch 12 of its popular single cask bottlings series, selected as always by Master Blender Billy Walker.
GlenDronach Single Cask Batch 12 is a release of nine whiskies which were all bottled in August 2015 and are all available from today. The nine new expressions range in age from a 2004 distilled 11 year old up to the rarest bottling in this release, a 1972 distilled 43 year old. All nine bottlings have been matured in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks from Southern Spain to create a dark, spicy whisky with notes of sherry sweetness, dried fruits and raisins.
As with previous batches, each single cask’s character is distinctive and GlenDronach tell me the taste sublime, with the Pedro Ximenez sherry influence perfectly balancing the spicy notes and robustness of the renowned GlenDronach spirit.
Eight whiskies have been matured in Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheons while one, the oldest, comes from a Pedro Ximenez sherry butt.
Master Distiller Billy Walker who hand-selected the nine casks said: "Our whiskies are all about the interaction of the wood with the Highland character of the spirit.
"In these nine extraordinary bottlings, you see and taste the sherry wood working its magic on our whisky. The whisky sits and ages in peace, and it starts to darken and pick up subtle flavours from the wood, resulting in sensational aged whiskies that are appreciated worldwide by our customers."
As with previous single cask batch releases Batch 12 has a number of highlights.
GlenDronach tell me that the oldest bottling in this release, GlenDronach 1972 cask number 706 which was bottled at 51.1% ABV, is a dark mahogany 43 year old sherry monster matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry butt. On the nose, rich sour plums and dark chocolate are backed by a nutty tobacco note and a hint of clove oil. And on the palate, sherried Christmas cake is sweetened with a dusting of Muscovado sugar and mixed candied peel.
As a contrast, they tell me the youngest bottling in this release, GlenDronach 2004 11 year old from cask number 5524, bottled at 57.8% ABV on the nose has rich prunes and oak spices combine with a grating of nutmeg and a delicate liquorice note. On the palate, soft treacle toffee and rich raisin juice are infused with hints of cinnamon sugar and sweet floral oak spice.
The 9 new GlenDronach single cask bottlings details are as follows:
GlenDronach 1972 cask no. 706 / 43 year old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Butt / 51.1% ABV / 414 Bottles
GlenDronach 1990 cask no. 1375 / 25 year old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 51.6% ABV / 656 Bottles
GlenDronach 1994 cask no. 3273 / 20 year old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 53.3% ABV / 680 Bottles
GlenDronach 1994 cask no. 3398 / 20 year old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 53.2% ABV / 642 Bottles
GlenDronach 1995 cask no. 444 / 20 year old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 52.0% ABV / 691 Bottles
GlenDronach 1995 cask no. 3806 / 19 year old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 54.5% ABV / 701 Bottles
GlenDronach 1995 cask no. 4034 / 19 year old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 55.4% ABV / 683 Bottles
GlenDronach 2003 cask no. 934 / 12 year old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 53.7% ABV / 714 Bottles
GlenDronach 2004 cask no. 5524 / 11 year old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 57.8% ABV / 704 Bottles