The Glendronach distillery in the Deveron area of Speyside
was founded in 1826 by a partnership headed by one James
Allardes (Allardyce), named the Glendronach Distillery Co.

Just one decade later Glendronach was destroyed by a fire;
a fate that was not that unusual for distilleries at the time.
After the disaster several people from the whisky industry
became involved, including Walter Scott (from Teaninich),
Alexander Ross and Captain Charles Grant (younger son of
William Grant of Glenfiddich). Glendronach distillery remained
under control of that branch of the Grant family until 1960.

In 1960 George Grey Grant sold the Glendronach distillery to William Teacher & Sons Ltd.
(Teacher's became part of Allied in 1976 - in 2005 Pernod Ricard acquired Allied Domecq.)
In 1966 and '67 the number of stills was extended from two to four, all coal fired until the
moment I write this. In fact, together with Glenfarclas and Springbank it was one of the
last coal fired distilleries that were still running in 2005. Quite amazing, if you think about it.

Even more so if you realise that Glendronach was actually silent between 2000 and 2002.
Fortunately Allied announced in 2002 that the distillery went into full production again
And that's all the data I have on Glendronach at the moment, I'm afraid...

But this page isn't full yet. Blasted...
OK, in that case I should probably point out that when I write this (August
2006) I've just started work on 'wrapping up' the old version of this website
to build a few brand new sites, based on the content of the current website.
I know I haven't properly finished these distillery profiles like I planned, but
all that will be solved on the new Malt Madness site in a few months time.
Until then, please enjoy this slightly improvised version of the 'DD' section.

Check out my Track Record for a more up-to-date overview of all 'siplings' I've tried.

Glendronach 12yo 'Original' (43%, OB, Bottled 1990's).
(Available in the 1990's and since been replaced by the 12yo 'Traditional'.)
Nose: Malty. Much easier on the fruits than the Traditional or even the 15yo.
Grassy. Hardly any sherry first - then it picks op with raisins, wood & sulphur.
A nicely composed whisky, but I miss the expressiveness of the other versions.
Taste: Smooth and lightly sherried. Woody. Subtle fruity elements as well.
Tangerine? This is a good malt - just not quite sweet enough for my taste.
Score: 79 points - much more 'middel-of-the-road' than the 12yo 'Traditional'.
Given the wide variety of single malts available, I personally prefer my malts to
show a little more spunk...

Glendronach 12yo 'Traditional' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1999).
Contrary to the 'old' 15yo I'll mention, this version is matured in both sherry
and bourbon casks. This must have been one of my liquorist's more creative
imports - the cork had a Cyrillic 'Oikonomicon' customs seal on it.
Nose: Not as powerful as the 15. Much less sherried, too. All in all OK.
Slightly spirity at first. Grows over time. Rotting hay? Hint of incense?
Taste: Pepper in the start? There's something I didn't expect!
Liquorice. A little peat. Dry finish, but not as extreme as the 15.
Score: 80 points - optimistically... It may improve after some breathing - the 15 certainly did.

Glendronach 15yo '100% Sherry Casks' (40%, OB, 100cl).
Nose: Stunningly rich! Very sherried. Big. Sweet & woody. A hint of smoke.
Oriental notes. A little spicy. Grows even wider and more complex over time.
Reminded me of Macallan - and the forest after an autumn shower.
Taste: Toffee and caramel. Very woody. Liquorice.
Liquorice in the finish as well, developing into very dry oak.
Interesting development but just too dry and woody towards the end.
Score: 86 points - the nose is right up there with the first bottles of 'old' Macallan 12 I tasted - maybe even slightly more complex. In a H2H, the GD15 managed to actually beat the Mac 12 currently on my top shelf on the nasal front. Sadly, it loses the extra points in the taste department.

Glendronach 20yo 1970/1990 (56%, Signatory, C#513-518, Distilled 2/70, Bottled 7/90, 2400 Bottles)
Nose: Very rich with sherry, organics, furniture wax, leather, prunes, plums, gravy and bouillon.
Cow stable, Shezuan sweet & sour sauce and even some rock salt. Absolutely stunning.
Taste: The palate wasn't quite as overwhelming, but after a relatively flat start it opened up.
Over time it developed into a long sherried centre. Woody finish. Great but not 'the greatest'.
Score: 91 points - with a palate to match the fabulous nose it might have reached 94 or 95,

Glendronach 25yo 1968/1993  (43%, OB, 100% Sherry).
Nose: Aaaaaah... This is MUCH more like it. Kiwi fruits. Deep sherry. Good wood. Unique.
It has a 'light' and subtle fruitiness, despite the fact that it's obviously from a sherry cask.
This is really something - it has a combination of features I never found in any other malt.
Taste: Surprisingly soft start, developing into something medicinal with smoke and liquorice.
You can taste the age. Pink bubblegum. Dry, woody and distinctively 'winey' finish.
That might have lost it some points if it didn't keep surprising me at every corner.
Score: 94 points - it earns one or two extra points for uniqueness. Simply stunning.
That makes it the highest scoring malt at a 'normal' proof (40% or 43%) in my book..
Also, it's the highest scoring Speysider on the Hit List. Really amazing stuff.
But then again I guess I'm a sherry freak. This may be too much fun for some.
 
 
 

So, why don't you scroll down to read a few tasting notes I've quickly assembled?
At least that's some more information on Glendronach - and I assume that was the reason
you clicked on the link to this page in the first place.

Take the guided tour around this archive for an overview of other available sections, like
the Liquid Log I kept between 1997 and 2006 and the mAlmanac with some useful lists.
If you stumbled onto this page or the Malt Madness / Malt Maniacs website by accident,
make sure to check out the Beginner's Guide to learn what all the fuss is about...

What else? Nothing much, really...
At this point I'm just trying to wrap this up as quickly and smoothly as possible so I can start
work on the brand new websites (I'll build a new site for Malt Maniacs as well) as soon as I can.