GlenDronach 12 Year Original Single Malt Scotch Whisky
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2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold Medal Winner
2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold Medal Winner.
Deep amber-red gold. The nose is sweet, creamy vanilla, with hints of ginger. Spiced mulled wine and pear. The palate is rich, creamy, silky-smooth. Warm, rich oak and sherry sweetness, full mouth feel, raisins and soft fruits. Spicy with medium length and a dry finish.
Proof: 86
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Aged in former American whiskey casks, then finished in barrels that previously held PX and oloroso sherries, this single malt balances sweetness, spice and oak. Caramel and vanilla aromas are echoed on the velvety palate, plus cocoa and espresso, finishing with clove, cinnamon and a hint of lemon peel.
Nestled in the valley of Forgue, deep in the East Highland hills, is The GlenDronach, one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, creating the finest richly-sherried Single Malts for nearly 200 years. The GlenDronach is of true Highland style: a heavy and robust spirit, perfect for long maturation period in sherry casks. At GlenDronach Distillery, they have carried forth the tradition of their founder James Allardice since 1826, maturing the whisky in the finest Spanish Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía.
They continue to master the art of sherry cask maturation and their Highland Single Malts are recognized for their deep color and rich flavor profiles; which range from the sweet fruity flavors of the Pedro Ximénez to the dry and nutty notes of Oloroso. Their well-kept secrets have been guarded for nearly two hundred years by a parliament of rooks who love GlenDronach so much they try to nest in the warehouses. The distillery folk believe as long as the rooks remain at the distillery, it will be good for the whisky.
In 1826 the exuberant and extroverted James Allardice founded the distillery and produced his ‘Guid GlenDronach’ Single Malt. Down the years, the distillery he created has thrived under the stewardship of far-sighted investors like Walter Scott in 1847 and Captain Charles Grant in 1920. In more recent times, GlenDronach was bought in 1960 by William Teacher & Sons. Originally, all of the workers at GlenDronach lived on site, including the distillery manager, staff, excise man, brewer and all of their families. To this day many of the old houses still remain. The most famous of them all is Glen House, formerly known as Boynsmill House, which was built in 1771. Home to many of the distillery’s managers, the grand Georgian building could probably tell a tale or two. Rumor has it; the front room is haunted by a Spanish lady, who travelled over to Scotland in a sherry cask. Apparently, she is quite partial to the odd tipple now and then. In 1968, GlenDronach was released as a Single Malt brand for the first time and the brand’s reputation grew from strength to strength. In 2008, nothing less than a complete renaissance began. The BenRiach Distillery Company became GlenDronach’s proud new owner. While time can never stand still, the commitment of the team at GlenDronach will ensure that the distinctive practices that have always defined the distillery will live on – the most influential of these, its return to independent ownership.
“A good gulp of hot Scotch Whisky at bedtime–it’s not very scientific, but it helps!”
Alexander Fleming, Scottish inventor of penicillin, prescribed it as a cure for the common cold. Today Single Malt Scotch Whiskies are prized by enthusiasts and aficionados the world over for their rarity, age and complexity. By definition these must be produced in Scotland from a single distillery and made entirely from malted barley, using a pot still. The appearance, aroma and flavor of a Single Malt Scotch Whisky can vary widely depending on whether it was produced in the Highlands, Lowlands Islands, Speyside, Islay or Campbelltown regions.