The GlenDronach Peated

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : The GlenDronach - Highlands

Bourbon Casks, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish 

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2015

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 25 ppm

GlenDronach, which usually uses sherry casks for a product that is not peated at all, has decided to include a peated bottling in its catalogue. It is said that in ancient times, the distillery always used peat, so this is a return to its roots.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Thick, damp peat with a vegetal touch. Behind, hints of vanilla and mango juice due to ageing in bourbon casks. Mirabelles and greengages. A dash of acidity. I can't taste the sherry cask finish. On the palate, though, it's a bit young, metallic, coaly, the vanilla struggling to find its way through. Lemon pulp. Relatively balanced. The finish pulls slightly, chalky, leaving an aftertaste of ash and tobacco. Although aggressive, it doesn't last very long.

 

In Short, 

Back to basics or not, in my opinion it's a failure. On the nose the peat lacks depth, on the palate it's too young, and the finish is a bit unpleasant. GlenDronach's peat-free sherry cask-aged bottlings are much better, so they'd do better to stick to them.

Score : 81

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                         To Be Listened While Sipping :

      

                                         Billy Idol - John Wayne