Seeing its potential, Walter Scott bought the up the name and the site in 1852, and rebuilt the distillery into its current condition. Later on in the Glendronach story 1920, Charles Grant, the youngest son of William Grant of Glenfiddich, bought it. It remained in the Grant family for 40 years when it was sold to Wm Teacher & Sons in 1967. Investment from Teachers saw the installation of a second pair of stills in 1967.

It passed into the ownership of Allied Distillers in 1976 when that firm purchased the Teacher’s estate. In 1991 it became a single malt brand and it was released as two 12-year-old expressions – one aged in ex-Bourbon, one in ex-Sherry. Considered a real innovation for the time, but the brand never received any serious uptake from malt lovers at that time.

The distillery was mothballed between 1996 and 2002, ending up with Pernod Ricard, who later sold it in 2008 to The BenRiach Distilling Co.

Since then, a new visitor’s centre has been opened and a new range of single malts has been released. It is fast becoming a favourite with Sherried malt lovers globally and has built a considerable following in Taiwan.

Glendronach is now under the ownership of Brown-Forman since 2016 along with its acquisition of The BenRiach Distillery Company from Pernod Ricard.

Glendronach Distillery Facts

Circa 1.4 million LPA, a 4 still setup (2 wash stills and 2 spirit stills – all with a 9,000 litre charge) and 9 wash backs believed to be 18,000 litres in capacity. It’s believed that there is a range of fermentation of between 60 and 96 hours, with malt from Optic and Concerto that is peated to less than 2 ppm. Fermentation comes from Mauri and is supplied in a liquid state.

The Range

Despite it being believed that only 20% of the whisky produced at Glendronach is actually used for single malt, there is a broad range of offerings. 4 age statements: 12 year (“Original”), 15 year (“Revival”), 18 year (“Allardice”) and a 21 year (“Parliament”).

As of (updated 27th Feb 2023) today, there are two travel retail bottlings. A 10 year old (“Forgue”) and a 16 year old (“Boynsmill”). There are also a number of special editions. A peated NAS whisky, a port wood NAS whisky, a cask strength NAS, a number of different small batch bottlings released under the name of Grandeur (typically 24 to 31 years old), and a 50 year old bottling.

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The oldest in the range of the core offerings, Glendronach has the Glendronach 21 Parliament.

On the nose:

An intensive amount of sherry with a balance of spice and sweetness. Fruity with plums. Intensive oak dissipating into some chocolate and brown sugar.

On the palate

Spices and an abundance of sherry and dark fruits – plums and raisins. Syrupy in texture with a really meaningful viscosity that suggests both age and quality.

On The Finish

Mocha and aniseed lingers on a long finish.

Glendronach 21 in Summary

Full and intense, very wonderful whisky. The aromas and tastes are well integrated. The sherry is very present, but not obtrusive. very round and soft.

Your Opinion

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