Glendronach 18 Year Old 100% Sherry Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - New Packaging
"Allardice" has been dropped from the title of this snappy new presentation, however it would appear nothing else has changed. All matured in oloroso sherry casks (according to the website), Glendronach 18 is what many whisky connoisseurs would describe as a sherry bomb: Rich, dark and seductive with feature notes of Christmas cake, rum and allspice married together with aged oloroso, toasted walnut bread and chocolate orange. Put it on your short list of whiskies to try before you die. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... New look! Matured in Oloroso. They mention ‘Spanish oak casks’ on the label, but I’ve always thought that term could be a tad misleading (not just with Glendronach, mind). What exactly is ‘Spanish’ here, the oak, the casks, or both? That said, we were quite fond of the previous 18-year-old ‘Allardice’ (around 86 points), though it didn’t exactly have us swinging from the rafters – we used to prefer the 15-year-old. Colour: amber. Nose: there’s that Mars bar and millionaire’s shortbread note, followed by a hint of tar and damp earth. It’s got that dunnage warehouse feel, which I rather like. Then, as expected, the walnut wine shows up, with a touch of mustard and clove, before we nose into an old tin of black tea. Nothing to complain about. Mouth: perhaps a touch less precise, opening on peppered chocolate and espresso, moving into Catalan rancio, old walnuts, brown tobacco, and finally, oranges. The texture is a bit lighter than I anticipated, but it all works beautifully. Finish: medium length, with black tea, walnuts, and chocolate with a coffee edge. Comments: I’m not sure if it’s full-on Oloroso maturation or a three-year rerack or so, but I think it’s very well done. For my money, there’s absolutely no reason to think it’s any less good than the Allardice – and hey, I rather prefer the new look. 87 points - whiskyfun.com
[2024 tasting] Densely sherried, the nose is rich and laced with oxidized aromas evoking nutty, winey Pedro Ximenez sherry over oloroso. That’s but an illusion, of course, as this is aged fully in oloroso casks. The impact is impressive all the same: Bold, brooding, and rich, the nose evokes oily leather and furniture polish alongside spicier, racier notes of cinnamon red hots and some cayenne — surprising given its generally tame 46% abv. A not-insignificant level of sea spray salinity is clearly detectable, the Highlands at work. The palate quickly pours on sweeter elements: Molasses, brown butter, warm Coca-Cola, plenty of spice notes. Rich and enveloping on the tongue, the whisky evokes austerity and intrigue: Turkish rug shops, old London barrooms, Asian spice markets. Increasingly nutty as the palate moves toward the finish, the well-sherried experience approaches Madeira at times with its intensely wine-laden quality. Dark chocolate and caramel sweeten up the lengthy, enveloping finish, a healthy baking spice quality — more ginger-driven here — clinging to the back end alongside a sweetening raspberry element. Outstanding stuff. - drinkhacker.com