Above is a picture of my favorite shoes. They are old, beat up, worn, cracked, soft leather that fit perfectly. My wife has delicately suggested I not wear them to work. I think she would also rejoice if I decided to toss them out. That will never happen. I like them because they are so damn comfortable!
GlenDronach "Original" 12 year old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is much like my old pair of shoes. From the first sip I am put at ease. Like renewing an old friendship after years of separation. Just a matter of picking up from where you left things last.
Nose (undiluted)
Very sherried. Not particularly elegant. Let’s hope it tastes more exceptional than what is presented on the nose.
Palate (undiluted)
Quite sherried. Lightly spiced. Rich, sweet, red fruits like strawberries and red currants. Very light peat. Medium bodied.
Finish (undiluted)
Some somewhat dry sherry, raisins and cloves linger a decent amount of time. Finally, there is a zing of burnt toast with strawberry jam and some rasberries. Oak is there too. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Nose (diluted)
Addition of water makes the aromas less sherried and more floral. Maybe dandelions.
Palate (diluted)
More creamy. The sherried flavors still dominate, but less so.
Finish (diluted)
Flavors linger much less with water added. Sherry flavor still there but transitions to carmelized onions that usually fry up to go with your Saturday evening barbecue steak. A flavor that neither adds nor detracts to the over all tasting. In general, I prefer drinking this single malt without water.
Great low price! At least where I live, this is probably one of the lowest priced 12 year old single malts. It delivers rich flavor, red fruits, oak and some complexity of flavor. A good choice for the scotch newbie and the tramp (that would be me).
General Impressions
When I first tasted GlenDronach, I regarded it as an average, middle of the road, girl next door, 12 year old single malt. Not bad, but not great. The flavor profile is straight forward . . . or so I thought. A little complexity mid-palate when you taste the crunch of burnt toast and strawberry jam. But! Upon subsequent tastings it really started to grow on me and I started to unlock some complexity of flavor.
It’s smooth, tremendously easy drinking, coupled with a low price, makes it attractive. No bite or bitterness on the palate. Easy to like. Not grainy and basically not offensive in any fashion. No towering peat and smoke either that is generally not a hit with the novice scotch fan.
Over all, I am happy with this recent purchase. A very consistent taste from opening to the last drop. This represents good value for money. When you just want a nice scotch while you watch the game or chill out in the backyard after a long day, this works well. I wouldn’t pull this out for your scotch fan or the father-in-law you seek to impress. This is a “go-to” economy 12 year old single malt for the budget minded person seeking a decent single malt with a flavor profile that is familiar yet interesting. Comfort food. That’s what this scotch is. Just like my old pair of shoes that I just can’t stand the thought of parting with.
Photo Credits: Jason Debly
Copyright © Jason Debly, 2009-2013. All rights reserved.
