GlenDronach bottled a 9 year-old for Professional Danish Whisky Retailers last year. It was matured in Pedro Ximénez casks, but I doubt it was a full maturation, rather a finished / re-racked whisky.
This bottling is often referred to as Darth Vader because of the uncommon black labeling.
GlenDronach 9 yo
(48%, OB for Denmark 2014, Pedro Ximénez casks, 3000 btl.)
Nose: not the thick sherry I expected. It’s fairly mineral, with some wet limestone and a hint of gunpowder up front. Roasted nuts. Behind this you get more classic notes like dried apricots and creamy toffee. Orange peel and spices (pepper, ginger) as well as some oak shavings.
Mouth: sweet and spicy. Berries, figs and a hint of molasses. Stewed fruits. Pepper and ginger again. More oak-driven and less sherry-driven, always with this mineral edge which makes it feel a little thinner.
Finish: long, dry, mainly on pepper and oak.
Interestingly, this 9 year-old feels slightly older than it actually is, but also less fully sherried than most GlenDronach releases. Clearly a relative of GlenDronach Octarine in that respect. Around € 60. Thanks, Wim.
Score: 83/100