ABV 52.3%
Lots to love, but the anise-y seeds knock points unfortunately – they don’t quite sit comfortably with the rest.
Laura Foster
The GlenDronach
Brand
Single Cask Batch 14, 30 Years Old
Expression
Single Malt
Type
30
Age (Years)
2016
Year of Bottling
52.3%
ABV
Highland
Region/Country
Standard (Distillery or blended)
Bottling Type
Taster
Nose: Fresh mountain air, violets and candied orange peel morph into toffees and dark chocolate.
Palate: Lovely silky texture, which turns chewy with water. Candied orange peel up front, overtaken by serrano ham flavour, which is great. Hit of dried fennel and caraway seeds.
Finish: Fennel seeds linger with a chocolate note coming through.
Comment: Lots to love, but the anise-y seeds knock points unfortunately – they don’t quite sit comfortably with the rest.
Score: 7.5
Taster
Nose: Reveals depth quickly. Morello cherries, dried figs, heather honey, nutmeg and leather. Fades to reveal pencil shavings and toasted almonds. Faint cloves and eucalyptus.
Palate: Not at all viscous. Lively: strawberry jam, blackcurrants, dried prunes and figs. Pencil shavings. Fiery cloves and black pepper, with plenty of oak.
Finish: Medium length. Pepper and tannins dominating. Shade too woody.
Comment: With more viscosity and less oak influence, this would have been incredible.
Score: 8.1
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