Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

The GlenDronach 18 Yr Old Allardice

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

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

The GlenDronach 18 Yr Old Allardice Read More »

The GlenDronach 15 Yr Old Revival

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The GlenDronach 15 yr Revival
46% ABV
$85
Website
(Note – no mention of this product on their web-site)

What the Distiller Says
Exclusively matured in the finest Spanish Oloroso Sherry Casks. Non-chill filtered. Natural colour.

TASTING NOTES
APPEARANCE: Deep gold with a lovely mahogany heart.
NOSE: Incredible concentration of aromas. Treacle toffee and chocolate orange. Nutty notes and vanilla.
PALATE: A very dynamic and full bodied dram. Chewy with coffee, chocolate and treacle scones.
FINISH: A veritable feast to enliven the senses.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Thick and rich; plums drizzled with balsamic vinegar, a hint of bbq sauce and peachs with soft oak.
Palate:  Lovely sweetness – sherry with pears and dark chocolate, cinnamon and nutmeg sprinkled on top.
Finish:  Moderately long in length with a slight pepper spice note trailing.
Comments:  Damn – this is delicious whisky! In color, it is darker than the 18 yr, and I found that I preferred the nose on this over both the 18 yr AND the 21 yr. This was one of those drams where after tasting it, I immediately wondered where in the hell I could get a bottle. In that twist to Murphy’s law, of course I find this was discontinued in 2015 (but allegedly returning at some point in 2018?) I hope they do bring this back, as this is my favorite offering thus far. Complex, sweet, balanced . . . downright freaking delicious. I’d definitely keep my eyes peeled, as 2015 isn’t that far back; might get lucky and find one in the wild!
Rating: Must Buy

The GlenDronach 15 Yr Old Revival Read More »

The GlenDronach ‘Peated’

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

The GlenDronach ‘Peated’
46% ABV
$45
Website
(Important note for those in the United States:  On the site’s landing page, select United Kingdom as the country or it will auto-direct by location, and you won’t see the content; I couldn’t find a way around that!  If it auto-selects United States, you may have to clear cookies/cache to be prompted)

What the Distiller Says
In contrast to the traditional, non-peated character of the GlenDronach, this particular whisky has, unusually, been distilled using peated malted barley. The GlenDronach ‘Peated’ pays homage to the peat historically used to dry the malted barley in the traditional floor matlings during the early days of the distillery. The subtle peated notes in this intriguing expression complement the classic GlenDronach Highland character and the rich sherry notes drawn from the wood.

TASTING NOTES
APPEARANCE: Vivid harvest gold.
NOSE: A delightful aroma of ripe gooseberries dusted with cinnamon sugar combines with a contrasting crisp citrus twist. The delicate peat influence gives a smouldering charred wood character filled with freshly ground barley and hints of vanilla toffee.
PALATE: Vibrant oak spices and floral heather honey develop to rosehips and barley sugars, all warmed by a touch of white pepper. Subtle peat notes complement the palate by giving a delicate depth and dryness of glowing campfire embers.
CONCLUSION: A unique marriage of crisp fruit and barley-laden Highland characteristics surrounded by gentle peat smoke, intriguingly reminiscent of heather burning in the distant glens.

What Gary Says
Nose: Peat, sweet sea brine over husky, vegetal notes with a hint of iodine.
Palate: Sweet malt, notes of fruit salad underneath earthy peat and pepper.
Finish: Short and dry.
Comments: GlenDronach is typically a ‘sherry bomb’ single malt, so this peated offering is a significant departure from their traditional line. I like to see folks reach and try new things, and while this is interesting, it delivers peat but falls short for me if I’m looking for a peated single malt. It left me wanting to reach for some other Islay whisky.
Rating: Average

The GlenDronach ‘Peated’ Read More »

The GlenDronach 8 Year Old Octarine

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

The GlenDronach 8 Year Old Octarine
46% ABV
$60-ish
(This was a limited edition launched in May 2010 exclusively for the Carrefour supermarkets in France, although may be found elsewhere)
Website

What the Distiller Says
Matured and married in a combination of the finest bourbon & sherry casks

TASTING NOTES
APPEARANCE: Burnished copper with a pronounced saffron glow.
NOSE: Dense citrus fruits, with hints of marzipan and chocolate shavings.
PALATE: Fresh, vibrant and fruity. Vanilla, butterscotch and toffee, laced with spiced apple cake. Smooth and very approachable.
FINISH: Fragrant and aromatic. Lingering. Superb depth and development.

What Gary Says
Nose: A bit thin, sherry with raisins, pecan shortbread cookies and a hint of sandalwood.
Palate:  Sweet fruity malt with a subtle pepper spice and a bit of sour oak.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with pepper spice.
Comments:  While darker in color than the 8 Year The Hielan’ as well as the 12 Year Original, I found this to be thinner all the way around. Maybe the color set my expectations higher (note – per the label the color is all natural)? I tasted this alongside The Hielan’ and the 12 Yr to kick off this series, and it was a distant third in that grouping for my taste. That said, nothing wrong or off-putting about this whiskey. The Hielan’ really impressed me at the same age, so while this is thinner by comparison, it isn’t overly so for its age.
Rating: Average/Stands Out

The GlenDronach 8 Year Old Octarine Read More »

The GlenDronach 8 Year Old The Hielan’

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The GlenDronach 8 Year Old The Hielan’
46% ABV
$40-45
Website
(Important note for those in the United States:  On the site’s landing page, select United Kingdom as the country or it will auto-direct by location, and you won’t see the content; I couldn’t find a way around that!  If it auto-selects United States, you may have to clear cookies/cache to be prompted)

What the Distiller Says
This single malt has been matured and married in a combination of the finest bourbon and sherry casks for at least 8 years. Non-chill filtered, of natural colour and bottled at 46%, The Hielan’ encompasses a unique combination of sweet, buttery aromas with spicy, sherry overtones. The Hielan’ is a tribute to the dialect spoken in the distillery’s surrounding area in the Scottish Highlands.

TASTING NOTES
APPEARANCE: Amber with a burnished copper glow.
NOSE: Rounded waves of orange blossom and a citrus twist flow over buttery, golden sultanas, sundried raisins and ripe yellow plums; all dusted with a touch of vanilla.
PALATE: Crisp, vibrant oak spices warm soaked sultanas, apricot jam and gingerbread; all rounded by delicate hints of butterscotch, cocoa and toasted almonds.
CONCLUSION: Classic sherry overtones with a contrasting crisp dimension demonstrate the complexity of the traditional Highland character.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Bright, sweet malt with orange, tangerine and hints of mango.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, orange creamsicle with hints of nutty spice.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, sweet with lingering spice notes.
Comments:  Damn, this is delicious!  8 years is on the young side for a single malt, and this one is lighter in color than the other 8 year Octarine – so I didn’t have high expectations going in.  Boy did I underestimate it.  Just a lovely pour; more on the sweet side but not overly so.  Dangerously drinkable (drinks to me like 40%), although cursing that I don’t see it available locally.  Not being full-on sherry, I think this allows the spirit to stand on its own a bit more, and it really does shine.
Rating: Must Try

The GlenDronach 8 Year Old The Hielan’ Read More »