Glendronach Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

One of the year's most unexpected values in peated malt stems from the Highlands. Beautifully done!

A GlenDronach that pays homage to the peat used to dry the malted barley in the traditional floor matlings during the early days of the distillery. This is their first ever peated expression for the modern era. Initially matured in bourbon casks before being transferred over to Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks, in the words of the distillery, expect "A unique marriage of crisp fruit and barley-laden Highland characteristics surrounded by gentle peat smoke, intriguingly reminiscent of heather burning in the distant glens."

Tasting note: Bright amber gold. A wonderful balance of stewed pears and sweet spices mingles with cocoa and PX-laced peat; the sherry just melts into the smoke. Retains good freshness as the peat further asserts itself adding hints of lanolin and liquorice bullets. Third pass finds distant sticky date pudding; the orchard fruitiness is never completely lost. Slightly oily mouthfeel with sooty peat brushed on ‘sfumato style’ - so skilfully blended with the base malt and sherry input that you never can quite distinguish where one starts and the other ends. Finishes vibrant with suggestions of old liquorice strap, fruit’n’nut chocolate, warming spices and drying cocoa. Peaty, but so delicately handled even non-peat drinkers could find appeal here. A beautifully rendered and compelling addition to the range. 46% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... no prisoners taken here, this is one smoky dude...I rarely mark the smoky whisky from a distillery which makes peat as an after thought higher than its standard distillate. But here it is hard not to give massive marks. Only a failing cask at the very death docks a point or so... 46% Alc./Vol.
93.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2017