I heard about this new CS version quite some time ago, and waited to be released. GD is one of my favourites with a lovely OB of 12,15,18,21 and older expressions all sherried, and very well made, in addition to single casks which appear here and there, and are even lovelier. But it’s a first they release a NAS Cask strength sherried expression similar in fashion to the Glenfarclas 105 and the (Award winning ) Aberlour A’bunadh. Certainly something worth waiting for. This
Cask Strength expression has been matured in a combination of the finest Spanish Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry casks and first batch is of 12,000 bottles.
Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 1 , £52,99 
Nose: a very interesting nose. With a lot of sweet sherry almost honeyed. Not meaty at all and very clean with no sulfur or balsamic not a monster by all means. Spiced with ginger cloves and some cinnamon. And sprinkled with pepper. On the second wave of aromas getting a but earthy and sand additional layer of rum like honey liquor with sultanas
Palate: lots of spice and some wood bitterness too, with ginger powder,sugars and the rum like effect from the nose. Not quite bitter as other cask strength NAS get (A’bunadh, 105). More praline than bitter dark chocolate. Macadamia nuts galore.
Finish: dry and nutty with Los of macadamia nut shells , bitter wood and dried fruit.
This is a lovely dram with sherry well felt,yet not overpowering. Not as fierce and as bitter/ towards chocolate and double espresso as the 105 and some A’bunadh’s are. Very clean, no sulphur / meaty tones.
At this price it’s a bit pricier than the A’bunad and which i suspect are younger expressions, and differ quite a bit but are all aimed at the cask strength loving whisky sipper, who enjoys big sherried drams. It looks like a great addition to every XMAS list, when whisky is concerned. Good stuff.
Looks interesting, but double the price of the A’bunadh I saw in the supermarket last week. Although perhaps that’s a bit like comparing apples and oranges?
Daniel,It’s not the same, and from what i hear, it’s a mix of older casks, where the A’bunadh is mostly very young whisky. if you are into sherry monsters A’bunadh is more “monsterly” but this one is more balanced and very clean.
u cant go wrong buying either.