Keeping in the scotch review theme of the week, today we’re digging into the GlenDronach Master Vintage 1993. GlenDronach is a special whisky for me because it’s the first whisky I drank that showed me the power that well-balanced sherry can bring to glass and that was in the old GlenDronach 12.
There was a point in time when the core range of GlenDronach was older than what was on the label. The distillery was closed from 96-01 and after it reopened they had a lot of old whisky sitting around that needed to be used to make room for new distillate. So they added much older whisky to everything, it’s a familiar story in the Scotch world.
Those bottles of 12, 15 and 18 were incredible and formed a deep affinity for the brand. Even though it has changed a bit since reopening, and production and sales have caught up and equalized, I still love the whisky they produce and the way it showcases the beauty and nuance sherry can bring to a whisky. It’s a dram I always look forward to.
GlenDronach Master Vintage 1993 Review: Details and Tasting Notes
“With a quarter of a century slowly maturing in our renowned Andalucían casks, The GlenDronach Master Vintage 1993, aged for 25 years, has developed profound layers of depth and complexity, leading to an exceedingly long, voluptuous and memorable finish.”
Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Distiller: GlenDronach
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: Andalucían ex-sherry
Age: 25 Years
ABV: 48.2%
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Batch: 1993
Price: $350*
Tasting Notes
EYE
Dark amber
NOSE
Sherry sweetness, dried dark fruit, cocoa, leather, hazelnuts, citrus, cola spice and a touch of soy sauce.
PALATE
Cocoa, leather, baking and cola spice, ash, hazelnuts, herbal, sherry and a touch of earthy roasted malty notes.
FINISH
Med-long -> Dark fruit, cocoa, spice and ash
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Great balance, round full body, heavy oily feel.
GlenDronach Master Vintage 1993 Review: Overall and Score
Rich full aroma rolls out of the glass carrying a heaviness from the complex, darkly sweet, notes; Palate is equally heavy and full but with more complex fruity notes and bits of oak; Finish comes through darkly as well and lingers far longer than expected, but still not long enough.
This GlenDronach Master Vintage 1993 is good, it runs a tad hotter than the ABV might make you imagine, but that’s inconsequent to the multi-faceted sweet and leathery delivery it gives across the senses. A touch nutty and smoothly warm it has a great complexity to it. Water brings out a bit more of a nutty-spicy-citrus kicker that melds with the sherry, it also brings out bits of black tea and a soy sauce umami character.
SCORE: 5/5
*Disclosure: The sample for this scotch review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
GlenDronach Master Vintage 1993 Review $350
Overall
5- Nose (5)
- Palate (5)
- Finish (5)
- BBF (5)
User Review
0 (0 votes) Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)GlenDronach Master Vintage 1993 Review Summary
A gorgeous whisky that showcases the beauty and power of GlenDronach. A stunning combination of sherry soaked notes that fill the senses. Think of hazelnuts, leather, dried dark fruits, citrus, cola spice and earthy malty notes and mentally drizzle them with sherry sweetness. Sounds good right?