Batch 189

Full-bodied, mature yet graceful. There’s a distinct oiliness to begin with sitting alongside cedar/hinoki, light incense and a little dried apricot. A green, herbal element (chervil and sweet cicely) then lifts off, before we bed down in wax polish, red apples and soft orchard fruit. The richness of age is on show here – beautifully balanced, layered and complex. It encourages watering so it can show off more resinous elements. Savoury, exotic, with scented woods. Sophisticated.

There seems to be a tickle of smoke, but the palate is dominated by super-ripe fruits – both hedgerow and tropical. There’s light grip but the waxiness keeps any tannic attack well at bay. As with the nose, water is welcome, adding a further dimension and an increase in spice.

Ripe tropical fruits with the slight dustiness of age – and a hint of wood ash. Remains highly complex.

Some (but not many) old whiskies take you into a different flavour world. This has that quality. That’s what 46 years in refill can do. Relaxed, complex, layered.

Night time, sprinkled by Stardust…

The meatiest GlenDronach I’ve had for a while – a Maillard reaction in a glass. Initially, you pick up the richer elements: heavy treacle, barley miso, charred red pepper, Darjeeling tea, roasted chestnut and almond. Then comes fruit: damson, sultana, a lift of apple syrup, and finally spices: star anise, five spice. Water pushes the fruits forward with a welcoming touch of Sherried funk.

Initially it’s drier with more grunt and structure than the nose suggests, maxing out on the ‘Dronach mix of earth, sootiness, cocoa nibs and Armagnac-like pruniness. By the mid-palate though the black and purple fruits come through. Water both adds length and softens the tannins, re-establishing a balance by bringing out those dense, dark fruits and some orange peel.

Powerful and lightly tannic.

A highly rewarding, meaty offering.

Where the mood is Indigo…

Earthy, dunnage notes backed with tobacco (rough shag) then some spent firework, bourbon biscuit, chocolate, coffee grounds and a little malt extract. When diluted you can get the maltiness of Assam tea, then a hint of walnut, date, raisin and sweeter fruits.

Dried fruit to start: all fig and sultana cake, then comes a return of the chocolate. By the middle of the tongue you’re getting peanut brittle and, retronasally, the scent of a just-fired shotgun. Water does improve things considerably as a gentle sweetness more in alignment with the distillery character now begins to come through, alongside blackcurrant and toffee.

Dry. Roasted spices.

For those who like things cask forward.

There’s an ominous sense of dread as we enter the Danger Zone.

Dark as pitch. Woodpile, spent charcoal, liquorice allsorts and a struck match. In time, some charred elements and autumn woods. With water, there’s some violet root, old briefcase and the sensation that you are in the back of an old wardrobe. Steadily builds a mix of oak essence and flat cola.

Thick and treacley on the tongue, with some sweet raisin in the centre, then liquorice root and bitter molasses. Water brings out some Tunes cherry menthols, cherry cola, sarsaparilla and a growing astringency.

Iron, blood, coffee. Bitter.

Of interest, due to it being a Sherry cask-aged grain, and while some might like its impact, I can’t see the distillery for the wood.

Gazing around we realise we’re Lost in Space…

Complex from the off, with highly concentrated sweetness. The sweet/bitter notes of freshly-made tangerine marmalade contrasts with dried lavender, blueberry jam, then salted caramel toffee. Steadily, the smoke asserts itself: hickory, cigar box and sandalwood incense, or, if you prefer, eating smoked oysters and brown bread beside a beach bonfire. Water brings out a light waxiness, vanilla, some mead/metheglin, barbecued pineapple, smoky grist and an increase in the scented elements, all backed with characteristic sweet grassiness/cow’s breath.

The smoke is totally integrated, adding a little dry touch to balance the soft honeyed fruits, and adding accents to the scented, herbal notes of wild mint and sage. All pool (and pull) together in the middle of the tongue, building a chewy feel before some heat kicks in alongside a whiff of burning wool. Water brings the sweetness further out, adding in some goji berry and tart fruits. As on the nose, the waxed leather gives a sense of a deeper maturity than you might expect from a 10-year-old. Though dilution means you lose a little of the feel, you do get more smoke, so take your pick.

Starts flinty, then there’s smoke, oak tones, pipe tobacco, light cereal, sweet fruits and finally, camphor.

Relaxed and confident with just enough hot embers and smoke to remind you it retains an element of danger. Excellent, and marked in its competitive set.

We have become a Mysterious Traveler.

Light, gentle yet clearly mature. Castor oil, pears poached in white Burgundy, then a hint of vanilla, white peach purée, cut flowers and sweet spice. The impression is of utter purity of character, with a growing tropical fruit element: mango juice, green banana and sweet jellied fruits. Water firms it up slightly, adding a rustle of dry leaves, then some strawberry and Milky Bar.

Remarkably thick on the tongue, with light cream and a bright, zesty, orange-accented acidity. The ripe, tropical fruits unfold fully in the middle, along with cinnamon sprinkled on hot pancakes. The spiciness has a slight needling quality, so add water. The texture isn’t diminished by water. If anything, you get more cream and fruit syrups.

Lightly floral and still thick with that hot spicy attack.

The third in what will build to a seven-strong series from the soon-to-be revived Lowland distillery. Jealousy should only emerge if someone with a bottle refuses to share. Utterly gorgeous.

Returning home with Rosy Steps to greet the dawn.