[Subscriber-only Content]

Three bottles to unlock Glendronach’s journey from the Highlands to the World

Glendronach has earned its stature as one of the most respected whisky makers on the planet, and these bottles prove the case

Diving into a journey through the Glendronach whisky family can be strange for the beginner, but for those in the know, it’s always a welcome return to a completely dependable brand. The Highland whisky maker works hard to keep its selection small and its impact high with a series of classic and head-turning releases that are closely protected. 

Here are three bottles of varying vintages that unlock the whisky maker’s main collections: the  Master’s Anthology, the Flagship Portfolio and Glendronach’s Special Releases series: 

The Master’s Anthology Collection

This special edition series is a statement trilogy that conveys the past, present and future of Glendronach. The striking flourish of the packaging, with its elegant fonts, curving foliage and artful wildlife, directs the eye to the flavour profile at the heart of each of the three bottles. Each in turn conveys an ode to the valley, peat embers and sherry that sit at the heart of these releases and at the heart of Glendronach itself in Gleann Dronach (the Valley of the Brambles).  

The Ode to Embers is the most noticeable outlier in this series. With a classic phoenix rising from the ashes depicted at the centre of the packaging, we are guaranteed a smoked edition of Glendronach’s classic sherried style. While this is not the first peated Glendronach, it’s undoubtedly a rare route to flavour for the whisky maker.

A dark amber colour conveys the warmth that underpins this pour, with layers of cinnamon, salty caramel and burnt orange on the nose. The taste continues this smoky undercurrent with roasted walnuts, smoked dark fudge and dark raisin notes leading to a long and deep finish. 

Bottled at 48.4%, this smouldering dram is a welcome diversion from the classic Glendronach profile and a suitable special arrival in the Highland whisky maker’s lineup.

The Flagship Portfolio

Glendronach collaborated with British photographer Rankin to reimagine the bottle design and marketing materials for the Flagship Portfolio collection. It was the latest push by owners Brown Forman to keep their stable of luxury brands at the forefront of dedicated whisky fans’ minds, constantly protecting and refreshing the Glendronach range to match expectations.

The brand stripped away history-related design elements on bottles to modernise the core collection, giving the 12-, 15-, 18- and 21-year-old releases a simpler brand identity that celebrates Glendronach’s historic links with Spain. 

Glendronach 18 is a fantastic bottle in this series. Rich and elegant, its dark bronze colour with amber highlights immediately communicates the status of this well-matured release. 

The 18 years it spent in both Pedro Ximenez and oloroso sherry casks built a rich and seductive pour. It comes fused with aromas of dark sugar, stewed fruit, morello cherries and deep oak spice. The taste offers waves of toasted walnut, autumn fruits, chocolate orange and a long velvety finish. It’s an excellent pour that never disappoints. Bottled at 46%. 

The Special Release: Glendronach 30

Glendronach keeps its core collection tight, increasing vintages rarely. But hidden within its maturation houses lie an enticing series of single casks and high vintage releases that turn heads and become collector’s editions almost immediately.

This 30-year-old bottling is a wonderful case in point. Distilled in 1993 and matured for those three decades in a Pedro Ximenez sherry butt, just 595 bottles emerged from that cask. Numbered as 6753, it represents one of the oldest vintages from the Highland distiller. 

There’s no doubt that this dram will come soaked in sherry. Official tasting notes herald the figs and plums that drive through its aroma, partnering with spiced vanilla and lots of nutty elements. 

The palate is equally enticing, capturing all the rich, velvety textures that Glendronach loves and wrapping them in cinnamon, dark honey, nutmeg and black pepper. The 30-year vintage will guarantee a long and heavily-flavoured finish that celebrates all the oak, tobacco and leather notes that extra-matured single malt delivers. Bottled at 52.8%.

Click here to view all our Glendronach bottles

From Rare Gems to Great Discounts: Have you visited our two summer sales?

Whether you’re searching for a collector’s item or that very special gift, we have two great sales running to meet every need.

Visit our RARE GEMS section to find the very best reductions in collectable and rare bottles from across the world.

Meanwhile, in our CLEARANCE SALE we’re making room for new arrivals and you’ll find discounts of up to 50% in some cases.

Both sales end soon, so don’t delay.