GlenDronach Allardice 18 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review

October 2, 2018

let’s begin

An excellently Sherried malt form a lesser known distillery, this will certainly put them on the map if nothing else.

The Brand

Having been around since 1826, you’d like to think Glendronach knows a thing or two about Whisky making. And they really do. They may not be the biggest players in the game, but the brand, owned by BenRiach, certainly knows their way around a cask.

They were originally founded by a group of farmers. James Allardice headed up the group, and the malt proved popular.llardice was an impressive businessman and it was his influence that meant that Glendronach Whisky was selling in London not long after the distillery had opened.

The distillery has thrived in the decades since, and now has a wide breadth of malts available.

Tasting notes for the Glendronach Allardice 18 Year Old

Bottle cost: £98.95

Part of their core range, the Allardice 18 Year Old is so named after their founder. It has been matured in Oloroso sherry casks and certainly has the flavour profile to show for it.

It opens with lots of dry sherried spice and sweetness. It is wonderfully complex and you can really get in there and tease out lots of different notes. Sweet nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, dried fruits and a lovely hint of oak give this dram a really dense and interesting start.

The palate is just as packed with flavour. More spice and a rich vanilla, caramel and woody oak comes through. It is rich and elegant. Dried fruits such as raisins, dates and apricots give it a chewy texture. They combine well with the spice and make for a sherry soaked Christmas cake kind of flavour.

Almonds and hazelnuts are also present and complement the oak wood perfectly. They add to the complexity of the overall dram.

The finish is deep and sweet, with more caramel and big warming notes of cinnamon.

An excellent dram that captures the brilliance of Glendronach perfectly. Well worth adding to your collection, it will never disappoint.

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below and let’s have a chat!

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.