Glendronach 24 Years Old Grandeur Batch 9

By Barry Bradford on March 2, 2018 • ( Leave a comment )

GlenDronach Grandeur 24 Years Old Batch 9 (48.7%, OB, Batch 9, 1,487 Bottles, 2017)

Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky
Origin: GlenDronach Distillery
Bottling: Brown-Forman
ABV: 48.7%
Cost: £450

What they say

In The GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 9, an unparalleled range of the finest aromas and tastes have been composed from masterful Spanish oak sherry cask maturation, patient aging and careful cask selection. Grandeur Batch 9 is a single malt of finesse, powerful complexity and persistence, reaching heights of maturity and depth of character that approach single malt perfection. The GlenDronach Grandeur is the pinnacle of the signature style, representing rich layers of Highland heritage and terroir, intensified through patient aging in the finest Spanish oak sherry casks. The expression offers a carefully woven tapestry of stone fruit, baked quince and glazed cherries on a bed of sandalwood, roast chestnuts and subtle muskscented leather. The freshness of oak balsam lifts and lengthens throughout, sustaining the exceptional balance and complexity. With an elegant, deep and perfectly integrated palate, Grandeur combines a myriad of sherry cask tastes in each sip. As time slowly passes, the taste lengthens and deepens towards an elegant dark chocolate mint, raisin and angelica root velvet finish.

GlenDronach Master Blender Rachel Barrie

Official tasting notes:

Appearance: Antique walnut with a golden hue.
Nose: A carefully woven tapestry of stone fruit, baked quince and glazed cherries on a bed of sandalwood, roast chestnuts and subtle musk-scented leather. The freshness of oak balsam lifts and lengthens throughout, sustaining the exceptional balance and complexity.
Palate: An elegant, deep and perfectly integrated palate combines a myriad of sherry cask tastes in each sip; an initial burst of rich, sherry-laced fruitcake intriguingly opens up to reveal baked orange, sultana and luscious black cherries.
Conclusion: As time slowly passes, the taste lengthens and deepens towards an elegant dark chocolate mint, raisin and angelica root velvet finish.

What I say

The Grandeur edition from GlenDronach represents the pinnacle of their whisky maturation.

This 24 year old Batch 9 edition has been constructed from hand-selected sherry butts distilled between 1990 and 1993. Expertly vatted together to produce 1,487 bottles in total at 48.7% ABV.

Thanks to The GlenDronach for the official sample

My tasting notes:

Appearance: Old Burgundy and gold highlights with excellent clarity (15/20), slow and rare, medium-fine droplets leave fine tapered legs.
Nose: Mocha coffee and saddle leather, floral sandalwood soap, becomes sweet and dusty and slightly musky, vanilla dusted red fruit pastries, strawberries and cream, cherry, plum, damson, apricot and nectarine, a hint of milk chocolate returns
Taste: Medium-full bodied, rich red and dark dried fruits, compote, some berries, a slight bitterness of coffee grounds and mid-dark chocolate with dried cherry, dark chocolate orange, beeswax, brown sugar and treacle, drying leathery tannins
Finish: Long, bitter dark chocolate and dry-spiced with powdered cinnamon and nutmeg aplenty, tannins and liquorice root

Overall

A medley of Sherry-influenced flavours delivers a rich and varied experience. Plenty of depth and complexity but slightly too dark, bitter and spiced in the nose and finish for my own personal taste. An exceptional dram nonetheless.