I looked through my social media for last year and noticed that quite a few of the bottles I tried during 2023 had green labelling. The colour unintentionally caught my eye, probably due to our move to the green island of Mauritius. Whatever the reason, it was a great excuse to start 2024 on a green note with the GlenDronach 15 yo Revival single malt Scotch whisky.
The story of GlenDronach began in 1826 when it was founded by a group led by James Allardes. The distillery was among the first to legally produce whisky under the Excise Act of 1823. The fifth Duke of Gordon played a significant role in encouraging the construction of GlenDronach, leading to its establishment.
GlenDronach, officially classified as a Highland malt, lies on the edge of the Speyside boundary. Over the years, the distillery changed hands multiple times. The owners included Walter Scott of Teaninich, Charles Grant, son of Glenfiddich’s founder, William Teacher and Sons, Allied Distillers, and Chivas Brothers.
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In 2008, BenRiach’s owners took over GlenDronach, investing £7 million in the distillery. New expressions, including a GlenDronach Peated, were introduced in 2015, showcasing the distillery’s innovative spirit.
However, in 2016, GlenDronach found a new home when the company was purchased by the renowned Jack Daniel’s producer, Brown-Forman, along with the rest of the BenRiach Distillery Company. This marked a significant chapter in GlenDronach’s history.
The GlenDronach 15 year old single malt was discontinued in 2015 due to stock shortages. However, much to the joy of whisky connoisseurs everywhere, it was re-released only 3 years later. The new edition was called Revival to celebrate the return of the release. The Revival Edition is matured in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks. It has a natural colour.
GlenDronach has become a favourite among Sherried malt enthusiasts and has garnered a considerable following in countries like Taiwan. I loved the GlenDronach 18 year old Scotch and have also tasted the 21 year old Parlement whisky.
COUNTRY: Scotland
ABV: 46%
COLOUR: Polished bronze
NOSE: You can’t mistake the sherry cask maturation on the nose. Ripe plums and sultanas mixed with fig jam. Dark roasted coffee and red cherries with bits of cocoa. Toasted nuts in the background with light malt and oranges.
PALATE: Buttery pastry wrapped around figs and roasted apricots. There is a sherry sweetness with hints of wood and nuts mixed with bits of cloves and nutmeg. The roasted coffee nose from the nose is still here. Honey sweetness comes forward after adding a few drops of honey and brings vanilla notes to the front.
FINISH: A long and lingering finish that ends in notes of ripe plums, cinnamon and dried fruit.
RATING: EXCELLENT
What a lovely dram. This edition is a huge step up from the GlenDronach 12 year old whisky and probably my favourite after the 18 year old release. I personally think that it is better than the 21 year old edition. I have not tasted the older GlenDronach’s, so I can’t say if it is better, but I love what this distillery does with sherry casks.
When available, this release retails for around R1600 or around GBP 65. Worth adding to your collection.
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