Earlier this year I reviewed the Batch 9 of the GlenDronach Grandeur – it was delicious, one of my favorites. Today we’re taking a look at the GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 10 which has been aged 3 years longer than the previous batch, but still sourced from sherry casks by Rachael Barrie.
Without ruining too much, I’ll say this before we jump into the scotch review. This batch 10 has a lot more cocoa notes in it than last year’s… and that’s all I’m going to say up here. So let’s get on with it.
GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 10 Review: Details and Tasting Notes
With layers of damson plum, black walnut and truffle on a bed of antique leather and old-fashioned treacle gingerbread, Batch 10 celebrates the robust, full-bodied style of the GlenDronach distillery.
Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Highlands, Scotland
Distiller: GlenDronach
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Oloroso and ex-PX
Age: 27 Years
ABV: 50.1%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Batch: 10
Bottles: 2,293
Price: $630*
Tasting Notes
EYE
Deep ruddy purple
NOSE
Cocoa, dark fruit, leather, apricots, char, brown sugar and bits of oak and powdered sugar/Pixie Stix.
PALATE
Sherry sweetness, dried dark fruit, vanilla fondant, citrus, roasted nuts, malt, ash and spice.
FINISH
Medium-short -> Dark fruit, cocoa, cola spice and oak.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good, round full, heavy-oily
GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 10 Review: Overall and Score
A good, tasty whisky with a cocoa kicker. The Aroma is deep dark and fruity with a touch of earthier notes supporting that heavy cocoa; Palate keeps the deep and dark cocoa-supported theme going but adds some nutty and roasty notes. Finish is a nice spicy chocolaty end. Not much to complain about.
GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 10 is definitely good, I’d expect nothing less, but not as fantastic as Batch 9 which was… amazing. Adding water brings out more leather across the board and deepens the heavy dark characters and heightens the nuttiness. Really, it’s the depth that’s missing compared to 2018’s release. That said, on the whole, it’s a good whisky.
SCORE: 88/100 (B+)
*Disclosure: This GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 10 sample was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 10 Review $630
- Nose - 89
- Palate - 88
- Finish - 88
- Balance, Body & Feel - 89
GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 10 Review Summary
GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 10 Review: Bottled at 50.1%, aged 27 years and priced around $630. It’s a big chocolaty whisky with a plethora of darkly sweet and fruity notes with some spicy accents.
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