The GlenDronach launches Batch 16

Brown-Forman has announced the release of fifteen casks from The GlenDronach Distillery in Batch 16 of the cask release programme.

The casks, ranging from 11 to 28 years old, and distilled between 1989 and 2006, showcase facets of the nature of The GlenDronach distilled through the years, matured in Spanish oak sherry casks.

For the cask release programme, master blender Rachel Barrie selects the
Spanish oak casks. Each batch represents a collection of sherry butts
and puncheons. However, Batch 16 also includes a Port pipe.

The GlenDronach master blender Rachel Barrie says: “The Batch 16 cask selection showcases facets of The GlenDronach house style; robust, elegant, fruity and full-bodied. Each cask individually demonstrates the finesse, powerful complexity and rich layers of sherry cask maturation found in every GlenDronach expression; from the 28-years-old Sherry butt distilled in
November 1989 with the robust, mellow maturity of rich fruitcake and smoked
walnut, to the 22-years-old PX puncheon distilled in June 1995 with sweet treacle toffee and manuka honey. At the other end of the age spectrum, the 11-years-old PX distilled in January 2006 balances sweet and dry complexity as nutmegspiced bramble toffee bursts on a velvet wave of cocoa.”

“All casks express The GlenDronach’s persistent dedication to the time-honoured methods and traditions since founding in 1826, a time when sherry and port casks were first imported and used to mature single malt. Revered for mastery of Spanish oak sherry cask maturation, The GlenDronach is synonymous with depth of cask colour and richness of taste, whether influenced by the sweet dark fruits of Pedro Ximenez or the dry nuttiness of Oloroso sherry. I am delighted to now be sharing the Batch 16 cask selection with connoisseurs across the world.”

Batch 16 comprises between 513 and 698 bottles from each cask, with ABV
ranging from 49.4% for the 28-years old-1989 Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon; to 58.5% for the 25-years-old 1992 Sherry Butt. Batch 16 will be available to buy in specialist retailers from February in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

5 March 2018 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor