No need to tell you the story of this whisky. GlenDronach 15 Years Revival was revived for the second time in 2018 under the new owners Brown Forman.
It is now a mix of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, whereas the old Revival was only matured in Oloroso. Although the label still mentions the same age, it is in fact younger than the previous version which was closer to 20 years of age.
GlenDronach ‘Revival’ 15 yo
(46%, OB 2018, PX + Oloroso sherry)
Nose: a lot more spirity than I remember the old version, like a boozy cake. Plums and maple syrup. Plenty of orange marmalade, some butter pastry and malty notes. Cloves and roasted chestnut. Lighter and thinner, more marked by spices than by fruits.
Mouth: same feeling, although the thickness of the GlenDronach spirit is still present. More on the lighter end though, with honeyed notes, golden raisins and leather at the top and malty notes, herbs, grasses and spices at the base, but less of that chewy sherry in the middle. Nutmeg and liquorice, light fruit cake. Leafy touches. Hints of burnt brown sugar.
Finish: medium, back towards oranges, ginger and spices.
Sad to say this is just not in the same league as the previous Revival. Compared to my open bottle of a 2014 bottling it is thinner, more wood-driven, more modern if you like. Not a bad whisky by any means, but a different recipe which probably should have been given a different name in my opinion. Available from Master of Malt and TWE.
Score: 83/100