The Final Information To The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous

Probably the most famend sherried 18 Yr Previous single malt whiskies available on the market, The Glendronach Allardice 18 Yr Previous is a cult core vary expression from The Glendronach model.

Exploring the origins, expression title, distillery manufacturing, and tasting notes – this final information supplies every part you’ll want to find out about The Glendronach Allardice 18 Yr Previous. 

What Sort Of Whisky Is The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous?

The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous is single malt scotch whisky, identified for its closely sherried wealthy model, originating from Scotland’s Highland whisky area. Matured solely within the best Spanish Oloroso ex-Sherry casks, The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous is bottled at 46% ABV. Launched in 2009, The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous was initially the oldest expression within the model’s new core vary launched by Billy Walker following a takeover of the distillery by The Benriach Distillery Firm. 

It’s mentioned that Walker wished to revive age statements initially utilized by William Instructor & Sons’ blends within the Nineteen Sixties, however it shortly grew to become an open secret that the age assertion bottlings contained significantly older whisky. The height for The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous was in 2015, when customers had been really consuming a 24 Yr Previous whisky.

Famend as the most effective sherry-focused 18 Yr Previous whiskies available on the market, The Glendronach Allardice has considerably contributed to the institution of the model’s cult fame – and The Glendronach’s standing because the quintessential sherried Highland malt. 

A multi-award-winning launch, The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous’s accolades embody a silver and ‘silver excellent’ medal from the Worldwide Wine & Spirit Competitors (2013, 2014), and a gold medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competitors (2022).

The place Is The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous Produced?

The Glendronach Distillery, situated close to Forgue by Huntly in Aberdeenshire, is a part of Scotland’s Highland whisky area and is famend for producing the Glendronach model, together with its esteemed 18 Yr Previous expression. Established by James Allardice in 1826, the distillery has modified palms a number of occasions, notably turning into a part of William Instructor & Sons in 1960, the place it grew to become a key part in Instructor’s blends. The Glendronach has been utilized in varied blends, together with Ballantine’s, for the reason that late 1800s.

The distillery was mothballed from 1996 to 2002 earlier than being acquired by Pernod Ricard, which modernized the amenities and transitioned from coal fires to steam-heated stills in 2005—the final Scottish distillery to take action. In 2008, The Glendronach was bought by The Benriach Distillery Firm, led by Grasp Distiller Billy Walker, marking the start of a renaissance for the model.

In 2009, Walker launched The Glendronach core vary, that includes daring, closely sherried whiskies with age statements of 12, 15, and 18 years. The distillery’s revival culminated in its acquisition by Brown-Forman, the producers of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey, following their buy of The Benriach Distillery Firm for £285 million in 2016.

The Glendronach continues to provide whisky utilizing conventional strategies refined over two centuries, together with a rake and plough mash tun and Oregon pine washbacks. Its uniquely formed wash nonetheless and plain-sided spirit stills reduce reflux, making a daring, weighty malt sometimes matured in ex-Sherry casks—an indicator of The Glendronach’s distinctive model.

Why Is The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous Named ‘Allardice’?  

The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous is called after the famend founding father of the distillery, James Allardice. In 1826, a syndicate of farmers headed by James Allardice (additionally spelled Allardyce and Allardes) established The Glendronach – naming the distillery after its water supply, the Dronac Burn. Recognized to historical past as a colourful and charismatic character, legend has it that Allardice unintentionally ensured The Glendronach’s recognition in Edinburgh within the early 1800s, by gifting a amount of the whisky to some native intercourse employees after a failed gross sales journey. 

Allardice had travelled to Scotland’s capital with a barrel and pattern flagon aiming to promote the malt to Edinburgh’s taverns – solely to be advised by landlords that the taverns had purchased inventory for the yr. Allegedly, as a despondent Allardice returned to his lodgings he was met by two ‘girls of the night time’ who wished him to take them for a drink – as an alternative, Allardice invited them to pattern his personal ‘Guid Glendronach’ whisky returning to his resort with a girl on every arm. 

The next morning Allardice gifted the rest of the flagon to the women, who promptly shared the whisky with their buddies – by afternoon the road was full of girls having fun with The Glendronach. 

This led many in the neighborhood to request The Glendronach on the native taverns, curious to strive the whisky the women had been consuming, ensuing within the landlords shortly looking for out Allardice. Because the story goes, Allardice didn’t return dwelling that day however remained in Edinburgh promoting all his inventory – The Glendronach had arrived.

Below Allardice’s administration, The Glendronach constructed a robust fame, even gaining common gross sales in London, till tragedy struck when a fireplace just about destroyed the distillery in 1837. Regardless of efforts to revive The Glendronach, James Allardice was compelled into chapter 11 in 1842.    

What Does The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous Style Like?

The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous is a richly sherried malt, with layers of sentimental spice alongside wealthy raisins and dates. The expression’s official tasting notes from the model’s web site might be discovered beneath:

“Look: Deep shiny gold with a tawny centre.

“Nostril: Candy aromatics of fudge and muscovado sugar. Fruit compote and glacier morello cherries present added complexity.

“Palate: Wealthy, darkish and seductive. Exceptional flavours of stewed fruits and all-spice marry along with basic aged Oloroso sherry and toasted walnut bread mixed with chocolate.

“End: Tremendously complicated and lengthy.”

How A lot Is The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous?

The typical value for a 750ml bottle of The Glendronach Allardice 18 Yr Previous is at present $250 on Wine-Searcher. At the moment, the perfect place within the US to seek out The Glendronach 15 Yr Previous is Yankee Spirits in Sturbridge, Massachusetts for $224.99. When you’re primarily based in Massachusetts, The Glendronach 18 Yr Previous will also be discovered for $225.99 at Gordon’s High quality Wine and Liquors, Waltham. In California, the perfect locations to buy Allardice are Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, and Whole Wine & Extra, Sacramento for $229.99.

The Glendronach’s cult model fame because the quintessential closely sherried Highland malt whisky contributes to the worth level. Bottlings of The Glendronach’s core vary bottled when it was brazenly identified the batches contained older whisky than the marketed age assertion have grow to be extremely wanted amongst the distillery’s lovers – for The Glendronach Allardice 18 Yr Previous, particularly these bottlings from 2019, when the whisky is believed to have been 24 years outdated.