Let’s talk about The Glendronach 15 for a sec. This 15-year-old expression seems to have a LOT of fans. Seemingly moreso than any of the other distillery’s expressions. In recent months, I’ve had the opportunity to taste a few other Glendronach whiskies, but this one’s eluded me… until now.

Similar to its other siblings, this single malt whisky has matured in both Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Spanish Sherry casks for at least 15 years and has been bottled at 46% ABV.

The nose is a great example of a sherries malt. Both lush and vibrant, it features hints of red fruit and orange peel as well as toffee and dark chocolate. Tastewise, it’s like a warm cardigan (hey, it’s a Taylor Swift reference) on a cool night. Hints of dried fruit, honey, and orange peel coat the palate, making way for subtle waves of baking spice and dark chocolate. The medium-length finish leaves lingering notes of Angostura bitters and honeyed fruit.

All in all, a well-crafted whisky. The Glendronach 15 manages to walk a tight rope between vibrant and decadent, something hard to accomplish for a sherried malt. I’m so glad to have been able to taste this luscious whisky. This is one of those times I wish my sample was a 750mL bottle instead of a 100mL one. Now I’ll need to explain to my wife why I’ll be buying even more whisky. There’s just no more space in the whiskey room. Maybe mentioning Taylor Swift in my notes will help my case. Who knows. Enough rambling – this one’s an easy recommendation.

Thanks to The Glendronach for the sample. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.