While there have been a some delays in both the watchmaking and whisky making industries in 2020, The GlenDronach distillery have still managed to produce this year’s single cask bottlings – though we’ll have to wait a little longer for the Cask Strength batch #9.
Just over a week ago the GlenDronach Distillery announced the eighteenth batch of its acclaimed Cask Bottling collection. Eighteen casks dating from 1990 to 2009 have been personally selected by Master Blender, Dr Rachel Barrie, specially chosen for their exceptional character, to celebrate and share some of the finest Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Highland distillery.
Whether they have previously housed sweet and rich Pedro Ximénez, dry and nutty Oloroso, or in selected expressions fruit-laden Port from the Douro Valley; each cask presents uniquely remarkable characteristics whilst remaining distinctively of The GlenDronach.
The GlenDronach Cask Bottling Batch 18 features many expressions of note, including two rare 30 year old casks from 1990 and a European allocated Port Pipe cask from 1992, aged 27 years.
The distillery’s newly enhanced tasting bar will be the only location in the world where all eighteen bottles will be available to try by the dram.
Master Blender, Dr Rachel Barrie, said:
“The GlenDronach Cask Bottling Batch 18 is a celebration of the distillery’s time-honoured mastery and a showcase of the finest of what this richly-sherried Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has to offer.
This long standing, much loved release is a focal point to each year, demonstrating the
exquisite character of our whiskies, through these exceptional casks which I have carefully hand-selected. Each cask individually explores the sophistication, powerful intricacy and rich layers of Spanish sherry cask maturation found in every expression of The GlenDronach.
From the rare vintage casks of 1990 with exquisite layers of dark chocolate and the elegant Victoria plum, date and bramble preserve notes in the 1992 Port Pipe, to the distinctive fruitcake and toasted raisin notes in the 2009 Pedro Ximénez Puncheon, each cask encapsulates The GlenDronach house style; robust, elegant and full-bodied. All eighteen casks are bottled without chill filtration for richness, at high strength and are naturally deep in colour.”
CASK ALLOCATION
The cask allocation for the European market will be: 2091 (2009 10yo Pedro Ximénez Puncheon), 648 (2008 11yo Pedro Ximénez Puncheon), 4363 (1994 26yo Oloroso Puncheon), 7411 (1992 27yo Oloroso Puncheon), 5897 (1992 27yo Port Pipe), 7276 (1993 27yo Oloroso Puncheon) & 7006 (1990 30yo Pedro Ximénez Puncheon).
The cask allocation for the APAC/Canada/IMEA market will be: 2039 (2009 11yo Pedro Ximénez Puncheon), 8558 (2008 12yo Pedro Ximénez Puncheon), 7465 (1994 26yo Oloroso Puncheon), 6049 (1992 27yo Pedro Ximénez Puncheon), 6735 (1993 27yo Pedro Ximénez Puncheon), 336 (1992 28yo Oloroso Butt) & 9333 (1990 30yo Pedro Ximénez Butt).
The cask allocation for the North American market will be: 3017 (2008 12yo Oloroso Puncheon), 1928 (2005 14yo Pedro Ximénez Puncheon), 5287 (1994 26yo Port Pipe) & 7102 (1993 27yo Oloroso Puncheon).
The GlenDronach Cask Bottling Batch 18 will be available to purchase from specialist retailers from November 2020 in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and for the first time since Brown Forman’s stewardship of the distillery commenced, four casks will be available in the USA from 2021. Prices range from RRP £97 to £861, depending on age and cask type. Global markets may vary. For more information on this latest batch release, visit glendronachdistillery.com
