The following Five After Five outlines our Top 5 GlenDronach Single Malt Scotch Whisky releases.
Buckle up.
Your DeLorean stops at 1826. The gull wing doors pop open to reveal you’ve landed in (and when) somewhere deep in the East Highland Highlands, Scotland. This isn’t the Wild West. In fact, there’s no wild or west about this place. There’s practically no one around.
So, you start walking along the Dronac Burn. After a good half hour walk, you happen across a man, kneeling by the water’s edge. He slowly stands up, looks all around, and says:
“This looks like a great place to set up shop.”
GlenDronach by the Dronach Glen (say that 10 times fast)
Ok, ok… maybe the Marty McFly bit is a bit of a stretch; however, the gentleman standing by the creek did exist and what he did, did happen: James Allardice did set up his business in 1826 along the Dronac waterway – a distillery. Actually, his was the second distillery to open after the 1823 Excise Act allowed distillers to make whisky in exchange for paying a licensing fee.
And thus, the GlenDronach was really created.
[GlenDronach is, of course, Scottish Gaelic and it means Valley of the Brambles. A bramble is a prickly shrub that can literally be a thorn or two in your side. Oh, another thing, you don’t have to use the “ch” digraph sound when pronouncing GlenDronach. (You know – that dry gurggly “chrrrrr” sound at the back of the throat.]
GlenDronach has been making whisky since 1826.
Not continuously though – it was closed for six years in 1996. And, between day one and now, this distillery has had some famous whisky names attached to it, like Charles Grant, son of Glenfiddich founder, and Walter Scott, author, and purported inventor of “Great Scot!” Later, William Teacher and Sons bought GlenDronach.
The GlenDronach Distillery, located in the East Highland Hills is among Scotland’s oldest.
Currently, GlenDronach is owned by Benriach (you can use the “ch” digraph here too if you want or not – no biggie), which itself is owned by Brown-Forman.
While most of the names in the brand’s past were men, it’s fantastic to see Rachel Barrie’s name on top of the title ‘Master Blender’ at GlenDronach.
While GlenDronach has been creating whisky for almost 200 years, with the Guid GlenDronach single malt being the first release, it wasn’t until 1968 when GlenDronach was introduced as a brand. Today, they have their core range as well as limited releases to enjoy.
So, if you’ll join me, put on some Led Zeppelin, get your empty glass, top it up with a little GlenDronach, and bramble on with our Five after Five:
Top 5 GlenDronach Whiskies
5.
The GlenDronach Original
East Highlands, Scotland / 43% ABV
The Original.
I wasn’t this well rounded and well versed at the age of 12. A good sherried starting point for your collection.
4.
The GlenDronach Allardice
East Highlands, Scotland / 46% ABV
Named after the founder.It’s almost as if you’re standing next to the Dronac Burn now with James himself.
This 18 year single malt was matured in nothing but oloroso casks. Great Scot.
3.
The GlenDronach Peated
East Highlands, Scotland / 46% ABV
You don’t always have to yell “peat”.
Here, this expression does a wonderful job in whispering it.
2.
The GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 7
East Highlands, Scotland / 47.9% ABV
A limited release, this one delivers an oloroso and PX cask finished Sherry bomb at a noticeable 57.9% ‘abv kapow’.
1.
The GlenDronach Parliament
East Highlands, Scotland / 48% ABV
This 21 year old saw time in PX and Oloroso casks. Perhaps it was named the after the setting for elected representatives…or maybe after the parliament of rooks that call the warehouse home.
This isn’t a “Five Whiskies I’d Take If I Was Deserted on An Island” list. It’s not even a definitive list; but it is definitely a list. Agree with all, some, or none of it – that’s cool.
However, getting together over a whisky to create a list of Five Reasons to create a list isn’t a bad idea either.I look forward to it.
Cheers.
-Renaud Timson
