GlenDronach 9 Years Old 2006 96.8 Relaxing in an alpine meadow (58.3%, SMWS, Refill Barrel, 172 Bottles, 2015)

• Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: GlenDronach Distillery
• Bottling: Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask 96.8
• ABV: 58.3%
• Cost: £44.20
• Score: 85/100

What they say:

96.8 Relaxing in an Alpine meadow

Cask No. 96.8

The nose was attractive, buttery, light and summery – lemon puff biscuits, croissants, honey, meringue, strawberry, vanilla, flower meadows and fresh laundry – plus medicinal, herbal hints of Covonia and Jaegermeister. The palate was bathed in honey, which, with some camomile, mint and crisp white wine notes suggested mojitos. At natural strength the palate also displayed muscular heat (woody spices and Extra Strong Mints). The reduced nose took us to summer Alpine meadows, where we relaxed, making daisy chains and sipping home-made lemonade. The palate was now much more easy-drinking – barley sweetness, dried raspberries in cereal and light liquorice on the finish.

Drinking tip: To help you relax and unwind after a hard working day.

Date Distilled: 8 June 2006 Colour: Polished pine Age: 9 years Flavour : Sweet, fruity & mellow Cask Type: Refill ex-bourbon barrel Whisky Region: Speyside Deveron Outturn: 172 bottles

What I say:

Sampled at the SMWS Big November Outturn preview tasting on 10th November 2015. I simply had to try this GlenDronach (SMWS Distillery Code #93) as it was the first chance I have had to try one, and we are still attempting to sample every SMWS distillery code bottled!!

Colour:

Light straw gold (4/20), thick and oily legs

Nose:

Spicy and sweet, like cinnamon spiced honey, a light biscuit cereal malt, slightly herbal and spirit like cinnamon schnapps, light vanilla cream, linen or hessian, new rope or twine, deeper herbal notes, menthol but sweet like mentos or softmints, spearmint?

Taste:

Similar to the nose this starts with a good herbal honey, sweet and woody, a touch of floral blossom, spring flowers, daffodil as well as apple blossom, biscuit cereal malt, this has a nice florality to it, perfumed and sweet, a touch of caramel sauce and then extra strong mints

Finish:

Medium-long, spiced oak wood

Overall:

Certainly interesting to sample, a young ex-bourbon GlanDronach (similar to the Dalmore 13.47) but not quite as accomplished/full-bodied. Perhaps this refill barrel was a little less active? Normally I’m not a fan of the minty notes either but in this case they made me think of mint sweeties that I enjoy.