The very first post for the Jewish new year! Not that I really use the jewish calendar that much, but it’s holiday time and a good opportunity to post something for the new year. This is quite new, and was released last August, which makes its a month or so old on the shelves.. The 18 year old replaces the 15 year old tawny port finish, bottled at 46% abv, first matured in European oak casks and thereafter finishes its maturation in a small batch of Tawny Port casks.
Glendronach 18 Year Old (Tawny Port Cask Finish), 46%, £67
Nose: Quite winey. The port effect is definitely there. Some red fruit jam and spice. Not as woody as I remember the 18 yo Allardice. Nutty too. Not very complex but appealing.
Palate: Sweet and lovely. Thick and concentrated with spice, pepper honey and red berries jam. Sugar and a hint of date paste. This is Whisky candy at its best, if you care for that. I sometimes enjoy this profile.
Finish: Tannins red fruit marmalade, drier.
This is a very pleasing whisky, not very complex, but very enjoyable, I tend to enjoy the basic GD 18 year old better than this one, as I am missing some wood notes, and the red berries jam is a bit too powerful and hides a lot of other flavours. Not sure why GD chose to replace the 15 yo Port finish with the 18. A good dram, but for me the original 18 is the better choice.
Score: 85/100
official sample provided by Glendronach
When you say the original 18 is a better choice, are you referring to the Allardice? If you are, I don’t see how you can compare the two, as the Allardice is matured in Oloroso sherry casks, and the Tawny Port is finished in, well, Tawny port casks. Both completely different results and profiles in the resulting whisky.
Correct. Glendronach is sherry by default to me at least. So yes I mean I prefer a sherried allardice than a port finished GD.