GlenDronach Port Wood Review

There are three levels of grape at play here in the GlenDronach Port Wood: Pedro Ximenez, Oloroso and, of course, Port. Which is quite unique, really. Most of the time when a Port finish is employed, it’s done on ex-Bourbon spirit.

Port is a funny cask and from everything I’ve tasted it seems to be hard to work with. Either it’s so light there’s no real influence, or it’s so overdone that it obliterates the whisky. On rare occasions, you get a stunning balance and in the more-than-capable hands of Rachael Barrie I’m hoping for the latter.

GlenDronach Port Wood – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Region: Highland, Scotland

Distiller: Glendronach
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-PX, ex-Oloroso, ex-Port Pipes
Age: NAS
ABV: 46%

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Price: $90*

White background tasting shot with the GlenDronach Port Wood bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.

“Expertly selected and married by The GlenDronach Master Blender, Rachel Barrie, The GlenDronach Port Wood is a rich and fruity expression to be savored.” – GlenDronach

Tasting Notes

EYE
Pinkish caramel

NOSE
Grapey sweet, brown sugar, malty graham, banana, vanilla taffy and some very light baking spice. Aroma carries a warm dessert-like profile that’s heavy on the dark grapey fruit notes but with a nice malty and lightly spiced backbone.

PALATE
Grapey dark fruit, malty graham, char, blackberry licorice, baking spice and a touch of citrus, nuts, char and metal. Not quite as warm as the aroma, and not quite as well integrated, but instead bold with the port notes punching through almost, but not quite, overshadowing that malty spicy backbone.

FINISH
Med-long -> Port sweetness, malty graham, nuts and char. The finish is a lovely fade from sweetness to a subtle char that, if I’m honest, is my favorite part of GlenDronach Port Wood. It makes me want to come back for more.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well balanced, medium-full body and a warm lightly oily feel.

GlenDronach Port Wood – Overall Thoughts and Score

Rachel has pulled it off. It’s not wildly complex, but it is a delicious and sensory engaging whisky that balances the port fairly well. It’s definitely a strong note, but not an overwhelming note and leaves room for a range of diverse sweetness and earthiness to surface. That port note sits the heaviest on the palate, knocking if off a bit, but that aroma… that aroma is stellar.

Overall, the best example of a port finish whisky still remains the Laphroaig Cairdeas 2013, but this takes a good run at the port finish crown. And because of that, if you don’t like port, you’re not going to like this. But, if you are a port finish fan, I can’t recommend the GlenDronach Port Wood enough.

SCORE: 3.5/5

*Disclosure: The sample for this review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

Glendronach Port Wood Review $90

Summary

This is what a well-done Port Finished whisky smells and tastes like. This is what others should strive to achieve as a minimum quality. The balance here is what’s often missing in so many others.