I’ll be honest, until recently I didn’t know very much at all about The GlenDronach as a producer. Sure I’d sipped a dram here or there, of their Scotch, over the years, but only in a casual way. As I’m always happy to learn more, I jumped at the chance to have a one on one virtual tasting with one of The GlenDronach’s Brand Ambassadors. We spent a solid 45 minutes hanging out over Google; topics included GlenDronach as a brand, Scotch in general and of course the 15 year old Revival in particular.
One of the many things I didn’t know prior to our session is that The GlenDronach ages it’s Scotch exclusively in ex-Sherry casks, utilizing a combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez barrels. Depending on the particular expression they’ll select a mixture of either both cask types or just one. Most Scotch producers use these casks for secondary aging. After the spirit has aged in ex-Bourbon barrels for a number of years they move it to ex-Sherry or other types of casks for additional months or years. The GlenDronach ages in ex-Sherry for the entirety of its time in cask, a significant distinction. Over a period such as the fifteen years Revival was aged the casks have an opportunity to make a much greater impact on the flavors, aromas and color of the Scotch than they would over say two years which is seen more often when theses cask types are used for secondary aging. Personally I’ve always been particularly fond of Scotch that’s aged in Casks that once held Madeira, Port, or Sherry. There’s a complexity, nuance and character they impart that really speaks to me as a Scotch drinker.
The GlenDronach is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The Revival, aged 15 years has a suggested retail price of $92.99. The GlenDronach’s 15 year expression returned to the marketplace in 2018 after 3 years away. Master Blender Rachel Barrie, a 2018 inductee in the Whisky Hall of Fame, tastes casks and selects the combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Casks to be married together to create the final spirit. The precise percentage of each is not revealed publicly by The GlenDronach. Their methodology is strictly traditional. Their barley is sourced locally to cut down on its movement. It’s not chill filtered and clocks in at 46% ABV.
Revival has a gorgeous coppery hue. The nose leads with red Montmorency cherry and a bit of toasted pecan. Taking the first sip it’s easy to see this is a full bodied Scotch with elegant power. Red cherry flavors are joined by stone fruits in abundance and a complement of spices. Mission fig, chocolate covered cherries and mesquite honey are all evident on the finish. I wouldn’t have guessed the alcohol here was 46%, it doesn’t show a bit of heat.
The bottom line for me is that The GlenDronach Revival 15 is an exceptional Single Malt. Its level of complexity and nuance for a 15 year old expression that comes in under $100 is quite impressive. All things considered this is on the very short list of best Single Malt’s I’ve sampled over the last 4-5 years. If you’re a fan of Expressions aged in ex-Sherry casks this should be on your must try list.
Check out the video and watch me taste it!