This one is the second 16 year-old in this year’s selection of GlenDronach single casks (bottled at cask strength, non chill filtered and not coloured). This batch will be marketed in 15 countries worldwide.
Let’s compare it to the GlenDronach 1992/2009 16y.
GlenDronach 16yo 1993
(60,4%, OB 2009, oloroso butt #523, 634 btl.)
Nose: More powerful than the 1992, a bit more prickly on the nose (the alcohol difference is not that big though). I don’t have to tell this has some heavy oloroso influence as well. The raisins, the dried fruits, the chocolate, they’re all here. Compared to the 1993, more notes of fresh leather and a bit of nail polish remover (more towards an old bourbon). Raspberries. I’m missing the added notes of toffee and vanilla here. More herbal notes (sage, mint). With water: hints of a dusty cellar, some beeswax and very light hints of a stable. Very nice.
Mouth: good depth in the mouth. Spicy, fruity, slightly toasted. There’s papaya and dried figs. Prunes. Some rancio in the background. Hints of coffee. Quite sweet overall.
Finish: very long and quite sirupy. Getting drier on oranges and figs. Less bitter notes in the end here.
The GlenDronach 1992 and 1993 are equally sherried and equally flawless, I would say. The differences in flavours are a matter of personal preference. I was amazed by the soft vanilla nose and the spectacular fruity effect of the 1992 (with water), so that one has a small edge for me. Around € 90.
Score: 86/100