July 2018

The GlenDronach 21 Yr Parliament
48% ABV
$230
Website

What the Distiller Says
Matured in a combination of the finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for a minimum of 21 years, the ‘Parliament’ continues the great GlenDronach tradition of offering fruit-laden intensity in its single malts. This rich expression has been named ‘Parliament’ after the colony, or ‘parliament’, of rooks that have been nesting in the trees that overlook the GlenDronach distillery for almost 200 years. Bottled at 48%, the ‘Parliament’ is non chill filtered and of natural colour.

TASTING NOTES
APPEARANCE: Deep amber with a cherry wood sheen.
NOSE: A delicate mix of ripe autumnal fruits – notably blackberries and red plums. Rich Oloroso sherry and candied orange segments. Spiced oatmeal biscuits and toasted oak fragrances bring excellent weight and balance.
PALATE: Resolute flavours of fine Oloroso sherry and bitter chocolate sauce, which has been spread liberally over homemade plum pudding. This is all infused with fabulous spicy notes – cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Full bodied with smooth tannins.
CONCLUSION: Long and lingering.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Thick sherry, fruitcake soaked in alcohol, orange marmalade with cloves, allspice, hints of toffee and leather w/ lingering vanilla pipe smoke.
Palate:  Sweet with chocolate, citrus, currants, raisins; balanced nicely with allspice and nutmeg over oak.
Finish:  Long and lingering w/ a bit of tannic smoke as it trails off.
Comments:  A sherry bomb to be sure, but delicious (if you like that sorta thing). This was the first 21 yr old single malt I ever purchased (in large part because it was only $130 back in 2017, which was a steal). A very nicely balanced dram, with a bit more spice and oak to go with all that dark fruit sweetness. While delicious, if offered a free pour of this or the 15 yr Revival – I think I’d go with the 15 yr.
Rating: Stands Out

The GlenDronach 18yr Allardice
46% ABV
$160
Website

What the Distiller Says
The GlenDronach 18 years old has been named after the renowned founder of the distillery, James Allardice. This exceptional sherried single 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.

TASTING NOTES
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 classic aged Oloroso sherry and toasted walnut bread combined with chocolate orange.
CONCLUSION: Tremendously complex and long.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Sherried fruit with cloves, musty oak, and leather with hints of smoke.
Palate:  Sweet and soft upon entry, chocolate orange that gradually builds in pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderate in length and drying.
Comments:  This is lighter in color than the 15 yr Revival, and also less intense in the sherry sweetness with a bit more of a spice edge. I get more citrus notes here rather than the dark fruits I often associate with sherry. Nothing objectionable to me; a lovely dram, but after tasting the 15yr Revival, I was a bit underwhelmed by comparison.
Rating: Stands Out