This GlenDronach 1993 cask #660 is a single sherry cask (undefined, maybe re-racked from/to different types of sherry?) bottled in 2018 for the German market. This cask was filled 19th of March and it has quite a generous ABV.
GlenDronach 24 yo 1993 (59,2%, OB for Germany 2018, sherry butt #660, 616 btl.)
Nose: quite a dark start, the first thing I get is chocolate biscuits, with treacle, some dusty / earthy notes and a whiff of Oxo. A lot of hazelnuts too, as well as strong coffee. On the other hand there’s a nicely varnished side, on shoe polish and antique furniture, even a light medicinal hint (rosemary and menthol). Echoes of a Brandy de Jerez.
Mouth: oily and rather stormy. A heavy hitter with sweet and sour notes, dark cocoa, black tea and tobacco leaves. Roasted chestnuts. Blackberry jam. Liquorice and espresso. Burnt toast. Oranges with clove. It’s pretty woody but it gets away with it because the other markers are also dialed up.
Finish: very long, very strong. Earthy woody notes, a fruity sourness and plenty of dried herbs.
This one has the elegantly polished note that I love so much in these 1993 casks, but they are (almost) drowned in darker, stronger notes. This is not so much about balance, it’s more of a rollercoaster ride. Heavily toasted European oak, no doubt. Many thanks for the sample, Wim!