It’s been some time since I’ve gushed over a GlenDronach bottling, so I thought it high time that I allow my inner fanboy to run wild. Here we have a recent release from the distillery, an uncharacteristic no-age-statement (NAS) bottling with a whopping price tag of $80. Now I know what you’re thinking. $80? For NAS? But here’s the thing. I trust GlenDronach, just like I trust Ardbeg. If I saw an $80 NAS Deanston or Singleton on the shelf you can be sure I’d think thrice and research twice before buying it. NAS GlenDronach aged in port pipes? I’m sold, sight unseen.
The port wine in question is a finish, but unusually the whisky is first aged in GlenDronach’s typical combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez (PX) sherry casks. That makes this bottling kind of a “Double Fruit”, if you will. Ok, yeah fine it’s all grape, so one fruit, but you get my point. The whisky is bottled at 46% ABV, without chill filtration or added color, which is standard practice for GlenDronach and always a laudable choice.
This seems to be replacing the older GlenDronach “10 year” Port Wood, which had an age statement. (Or, perhaps, the UK version has the age statement? Information on this bottling is sparse.) I think we can all assume that means the NAS bottling is younger than 10. My guess is they needed the freedom to mix in some high-performing 8- and 9-year casks to meet demand. That’s just a guess. The age-stated version’s label also revealed a 3-year extra maturation time in Port (so 7 in sherry, 3 in port). This NAS version doesn’t mention that, so it’s possible the time spent in port has been shortened as well.
For what it’s worth, there’s also a “Peated Port Wood” on the market, which sounds fascinating and daunting at the same time.
Nose: Piercing, delectable waves of fruit. All kinds of fruit. Dried, fresh, baked, jammed. It reminds me of a Trader Joe’s frozen pastry-and-custard dessert with mango and passionfruit we used to buy (“Torta Cotta”). In this glass there is vanilla custard, flaky layers of buttery pastry, layers upon layers of tropical fruits, and deeper in the glass are classic GlenDronach cocoa-and-caramel. Lovely, and assertive. This jumps right out of the glass, no need to dig.
Palate: Medium bodied (not quite syrupy). Cocoa powder, fudge, burnt caramel. Now the fruits are definitely dark and jammy: blackberry jam, fig newton, port reduction syrup. There’s also a slightly bitter charcoal note, and a background woodiness. Robust and flavorful.
Finish: Medium-long and satisfying. A little high-note of grape skins, a mid-palate lingering sweetness from the blackberry jam note, and mild bitterness. Evolves into some nondescript tart fruit (kiwi?) and fades dry.
With Water: Several drops of water improves the chocolate notes (fudge), while also reviving the fresh fruits notes that had languished while sitting in the glass. The palate is fresher, the finish sweeter. I highly recommend trying this first without water, and then adding a little to see how it changes for you.
Overall: Worth every penny, age statements be damned. This is exactly what I want from a fortified wine finish. I can get malt-derived flavors all day long from Balvenie or Clynelish or Oban or a host of non-finished Highland malts, but when what I want is a desserty, concentrated bomb of fruit this is exactly the profile I seek out. Specifically, I’m talking about the differentiated layers of fruit. This has dried fruit (fig), baked fruit (pie filling), fresh fruit (kiwi, mango, passionfruit), and concentrated fruit (port reduction). The result manages to be both rich and luxurious without being too sweet or cloying. Excellent.
Quick counterpoint: I usually don’t read reviews on the Web before I post so as not to color my own review. This time, I did so because I was trying to hunt down more information about the bottle. I noticed that a number of non-professional reviewers (like me!) were underwhelmed by this bottle, calling it “not complex”, “not well integrated”, or “too heavy with wine/grape flavors”. To me, that sounds like the predictable opinion of someone who just doesn’t like fruity finishes on single malts. I happen to adore them, so maybe my review is biased in the opposite direction. As usual, I suggest you form your own opinion!
About The Distillery
Founded byJames Allardes in 1826, GlenDronach distillery, after trading hands several times, was sold by Pernod Ricard to the Benriach Distillery Company in 2008. At that time, they announced a new style for the distillery flagship 12-year-old bottling, which was released in 2009. We can expect to see other changes in the distillery’s lineup. Fittings include a copper mash tun, Oregon pine washbacks, four steam-heated copper spirit stills and defunct floor maltings. While it sources the same malted barley as Benriach Distillery, either the water or the workings at GlenDronach yield a bulkier, heavier spirit that takes to ex-sherry casks very well.
Thanks for this review. I’m also a dedicated GlenDronach fanboy, but for some reason I keep passing on this because of the lack of an age statement. For some reason I have this thing about spending a lot on an NAS whisky unless it’s bottled at cask strength. After reading this and knowing that you like GD as much as me I feel comfortable picking up a bottle. Out of curiosity have you had an opportunity to have any of the GlenDronach cask strength releases?
Hi Joe, no I haven’t had cask strength GlenDronach. Turns out I can only buy so much GD before I have to stop to make space in my cabinet for other stuff. 😀 I definitely plan to review more eventually.
Last year I got my hands on a bottle of batch 8 (61% abv). In my amateur opinion it was as good as the best batches of A’bunadh that I’ve had. The interesting this is that there is no stated age on the front, but on the back of the tube it said that it was 10 years old. If you get the opportunity I’m sure you would love it.
Sadly, chill-filtration is going to become standard practice at Glendronach pretty soon. They’re dropping “non chill-filtered” from the packaging. Several people in Facebook groups, on Reddit, etc. have emailed Glendronach about it and have been met with some wishy-washy marketing speak worthy of THE Macallan. Glendronach won’t comment on whether they’re starting to chill filter or not; they’ve only said they’re removing the “non chill-filtered” from their packaging to “allow for more flexibility”. So long Glendronach, it was nice to know you. I’m lucky, I suppose, since I’m one of those people who doesn’t go crazy for fruity, wine-forward malts.
I recently purchased what was listed as the 10 yo GD Port Wood, but was delivered the NAS. The shop has offered me a £10 refund if I keep the bottle (I paid £60), or a full refund if I return it. I was tempted to do the latter because a youtuber whose opinions I trust said that it tasted hot and quite young, and that heat and acetone-y taste that are common in young whiskies really doesn’t do it for me.
Here’s the thing: Your review makes me think that I might love it and should keep the discounted bottle, as I am a GD fanboy who enjoys few things more than a nice dessert-y dram, balance be damned. Did you get those youthful notes and, if so, were they simply outweighed by its positives? I’d be very curious to hear your thoughts!
I did not detect youthful notes in this, at least not enough to concern me. I often find the heavy application of wine casks will “cover up” those youthful notes. That said, tasting is subjective and just because I enjoy the dram as-is doesn’t mean others will (as you found by checking for other reviews). If you like GlenDronach’s style already and if you like dessert-y whiskies, I believe you’ll enjoy the Port Wood. Cheers!
Thnx for all the reviews scotchnoob, and glad to see your still going strong. I usually check in here before purchasing a bottle of malt. And most usually agree with your reviews, Talisker 10, Laphroig 10, Highland Park 12, Ardeg 10, Corry better than Ugie, glendronach 12, Aberlour Abunadh – agree with you on them all.
Was out at the pub in Scotland and had an amazing shot of laga 16 (probly best tasting experience ever)…2 years later bought a bottle at the airport; terrible.
So for my next purchase…do you have any surefire recommends in 2021 for a non peated whiskey under 100 dollars (maybe speyside or lowlands)?
Surefire? I doubt such a thing exists. 🙂 My favorite two medium-range bottles are GlenDronach 12 year (sherried) and Balvenie 12 DoubleWood, although the Doublewood has gone up vastly in price. After that, there’s the usual Glenmorangies (Quinta Ruban and Nectar D’Or are best, Lasanta is just fine, Original is ok), and I’m also a big fan of Tamdhu 12 and GlenAllachie 10/12 (both sherried). There have been some decent Glenlivets beyond the 12 year, such as a rum-cask Caribbean reserve and the 14 year Cognac cask…
Thanx, will check em out!
As a huge fan of GD18, I found this disappointingly one dimensional, especially considering its price. Sure, it’s a competent whisky. There’s nothing wrong with it. But for $90, one can and should expect a more engaging product. (NAS bottle, purchased 2021.)