The GlenDronach Cask Bottling Batch 18 Arrives in America

Highland’s The GlenDronach Distillery has announced the U.S. availability of four casks from The GlenDronach Cask Bottling Batch 18.

This is the first time that these bottlings have been available in America.

The GlenDronach Cask Bottling Batch 18 collection, as a whole globally, features a variety of cask types and maturation periods. Master Blender Rachel Barrie selected 18 casks dating from 1990 to 2009 for the series. These include sweet and rich Pedro Ximénez casks, dry and nutty Oloroso and the fruitier Port from the Douro Valley.

The U.S. releases feature casks from 1990, 1994, 2005 and 2008 — bottled from Oloroso, Pedro Ximenez and Port Pipe casks.

“The GlenDronach Cask Bottling Batch 18 is a celebration of the distillery’s time-honored mastery and a showcase of the finest of what this richly sherried Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has to offer,” says Barrie. “This long-standing, much-loved release is a focal point to each year, demonstrating the exquisite character of our whiskies, through these exceptional casks which I have carefully hand-selected.”

Company-provided tasting notes are as follows:

• 2008 Cask 3017 — Suggested retail price: $120 per 750-ml. bottle. Aged: 12 years. Cask Type: Oloroso puncheon. Nose: Candied fruit, spiced vanilla and sandalwood with caramelized Sultana raisins and mixed nuts. Palate: Honeyed mead and orange marmalade on toast with ground nutmeg, ginger and lingering dark vanilla. ABV: 59.8%. Bottles Produced: 628.
• 2005 Cask 1928 — SRP: $150. Aged: 14 years. Cask Type: Pedro Ximénex puncheon. Nose: Sweet ginger, morello cherry and cinnamon spice with mocha, wild raspberry and mint. Palate: Seville orange, blackberry and cherry cake, with gingerbread, sweet malt, spice and dark chocolate mint. ABV: 58%. Bottles Produced: 612.
• 1994 Cask 5287 — SRP: $415. Aged: 26 years. Cask Type: Port pipe. Color: Chestnut gold. Nose: Highland toffee and walnut with dark chocolate truffle and the scent of an earthen-floored warehouse. Palate: Walnut and black truffle with toffee, cocoa and dark bramble fruit. ABV: 51.3%. Bottles Produced: 638.
• 1993 Cask 7102 — SRP: $600. Aged: 27 years. Cask Type: Oloroso puncheon. Color: Treacle. Nose: Spiced bramble and toasted cinnamon with dark vanilla, walnut and Oloroso cream sherry. Palate: Morello cherry, mixed spice and raisin with treacle, date and ginger fruitcake. ABV: 51.4%. Bottles Produced: 633.

“Each cask individually explores the sophistication, powerful intricacy and rich layers of Spanish sherry cask maturation found in every expression of The GlenDronach,” Barrie explains. “From the rare vintage casks of 1990 with exquisite layers of dark chocolate and the elegant Victoria plum, date and bramble preserve notes in the 1992 Port Pipe, to the distinctive fruitcake and toasted raisin notes in the 2009 Pedro Ximénez Puncheon, each cask encapsulates The GlenDronach house style; robust, elegant and full-bodied. All eighteen casks are bottled without chill filtration for richness, at high strength and are naturally deep in colour.”