Glendronach distillery is situated in the valley of Forgue near Huntly and was founded in 1826 by James Allardice. Shortly after, in 1830 it was taken over by Walter Scott and in the 1860's it was the Highland's highest Duty-paying distillery.

In 1920 it was sold on to Captain Charles Grant and then again to William Teacher & Sons in 1960, only to be mothballed in 1996 and then opened again in 2002 but it ceased its floor maltings.

In 2005 ownership passed to Chivas Brothers after a takeover by Pernod Ricard.

In 2008 GlenDronach once again became an independently owned distillery after being purchased by Billy Walker and his BenRiach Distillery Co. Ltd.

GlenDronach is described as a medium-sized, traditional craft-based distillery with 4 stills (2 wash, 2 spirit) and 6 warehouses, of which 3 are traditional dunnage ones.

General whisky characteristics: Rich & smooth, oak, dark fruits, nuts.

My thanks to Alan Jamieson for permission to use the distillery photographs

Some more great distillery info here, thanks to Malt Madness

Glendronach, 'Original' 12y, 43% ABV

Matured in PX & Oloroso sherry casks

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Reviewed as part of MMA 2011

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Dark oak - amber

Nose: I'm back in my country house library again with musty aged oak book shelves laden with dusty old first edition antique volumes. Then after some minutes comes slightly smoky sherry, figs and black cherries.

Palate: The palate has a creamy freshness which includes oak, dates and lightly sherried wood.

Finish: Very long sherried wood.

Overall impression: A fine sherried whisky and excellent value for money.

Glendronach, 15y, 40% ABV

100% matured in sherry casks

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Spiegelau

Colour: Rich old oak

Nose: Lovely old oak lightly polished with citrus

Palate: Raisins currants and prunes gently spread warmingly across the palate, before fading to a very light almond & marzipan aftertaste.

Finish: Medium, slightly bitter with almond and marzipan.

Overall impression: This promises plenty and just as it begins to deliver, it fades slowly away. Very pleasant, but needs a bigger, longer finish. I can't help thinking that 46% or above would make this a much better dram.

Glendronach, 'Revival', 15y, 46% ABV

Matured in the finest Oloroso sherry casks

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Spiegelau

Colour: Dark amber

Nose: Old oak, leather and freshly polished brass. Also hints of dark fruits.

Palate: Smooth and creamy, sweet raisins, some rich nuttiness.

With 4 drops of water in about 1.5cl: A slightly more floral nose and more pronounced wood and raisins on the palate.

Finish: Very long, but slightly dry.

Overall impression: This carries on and on and on where the normal 15y (above note) fades and withers away. I like it.

Glendronach, 'Allardice', 18y, 46% ABV

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Rich amber

Nose: Aged oak and musty books in an ancient library. Also a selection of freshly shelled nuts with the addition of plums, figs and cherries.

Palate: Green peppercorns, marzipan and coconut are intially prominent. I really wanted some of the cherries from the nose too, but they just aren't present on the palate. WHat I did find was freshly prepared and still unbaked Christmas Cake mixture (dough).

Finish: Long and rich, slightly toasted.

Overall impression: Most enjoyable.

Glendronach, 'Parliament' 21y, 48% ABV

Matured in PX & Oloroso sherry casks

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Reviewed as part of MMA 2011

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Teak

Nose: Initially hard to place as there's an element of over-riding Alpine cheese which is followed by wood, toasted vanilla and something I can only describe as pasta!

Palate: Much different to the nose as the palate immediately offers lots of rich dark fruits (think English Christmas cake or even pudding), sherry, wood and aged leather.

Finish: Long, rich and sherried

Overall impression: An excellent whisky, even with that slightly strange nose. I really like this one.

Glendronach, 15y, 23.2.1996 - April 2011, 57.1% ABV

Oloroso Sherry Butt No. 233, bottle No.67 of 196

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€ to €€€€€

Reviewed as part of MMA 2011

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Teak, dark and rich.

Nose: This is very rich, but with a hint of slightly stale fishing harbour. Bilge pumps? Light rubberiness? Then come heavily sherried nuts, raisins and figs.

Palate: Lovely and rich, but slighty dry with almonds, plums, figs and freshly polished teak or oak.

Finish: Very long, slightly dry.

Overall impression: A little dryness and that fishing harbour nose still don't prevent this from being a truly excellent whisky. Lots of character!

Glendronach, 17y, 28.1.1994 - April 2011, 59.2% ABV

Oloroso Sherry Butt No.107, bottle No.252 of 607

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€ to €€€€€

Reviewed as part of MMA 2011

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Liquid teak, mahogany.

Nose: Aromatic traditional wax polish and rich currants marinated in marzipan (amaretto). Very rich, very succulent, very aromatic aged wood.

Palate: Smooth and creamy mouth-feel, but slighty dry at the same time. Almonds, figs, dates and black cherries all offer a deep rich fruitiness which is combined with aged oak and that wax polish.

Finish: Long, rich and voluptuous.

Overall impression: Things just get better and better. Wonderful whisky, not quite one of my 'Greats', but not far away. Delightful.

Glendronach, 39y, 2.3.1972 - July 2011, 49.9% ABV

Oloroso Sherry Butt No.712, bottle No.21 of 466

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Reviewed as part of MMA 2011

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Amber with hints of mahogany

Nose: Quite different as it's obviously aged wood and sherry, but also very herbal. After some minutes this expands to include black cherries and smoky amaretto, then a lightly smoked wood which expands even further with more time.

Palate: Immediately lots of presence and character with smoky aged wood and antique leather. In fact 'antique' seems to fit this rather nicely.

Finish: Long with gently fading black cherries.

Overall impression: Never mind the cost, pour me another. A truly 'Great' whisky. Yes, I said 'Great'!

Glendronach, 39y, 28.2.1972 - April 2011, 49.1% ABV

Matured in PX Puncheon No. 2033, bottlle No.383 of 450

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Reviewed as part of MMA 2011

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Mahogany, very darkly so.

Nose: Rich and very aged wood, antique leather. Even beyond dark fruits it's so rich and succulent. Once again I'm transported into my country house study with all that antique leather, musty book shelves and even a hint of old brass fittings. Rich wax wood polish almost ends the delight, but not just yet as a burst of flora decides it wants to conclude the delightful experience.

Palate: Wonderfully smooth, very, very rich and aromatic wood. Engish Christmas cake with dark fruits, sherry and nuts, with a hint of lightly toasted wild mushrooms.

Finish: Long, very rich, lightly toasted.

Overall impression: Does life get any better? Not much. Another 'Great' from GlenDronach. Yes, I said it again!