Glendronach

SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES > G

THE GLENDRONACH

12 years old

43 %
Wm. Teacher & Sons, Ltd, Glasgow

THE GLENDRONACH

12 years old

43 %
LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
MATURED IN SHERRY CASKS
The Glendronach Distillery Co, Limited
Forgue by Huntly, Aberdeenshire

THE GLENDRONACH

12 years old

43 %
TRADITIONAL
Matured in
Seasoned Oak and Sherry Casks
The Glendronach Distillery Co, Limited
Forgue by Huntly, Aberdeenshire

THE GLENDRONACH

15 years old

40 %
100 % MATURED IN SHERRY CASKS
The Glendronach Distillery Co, Limited
Forgue by Huntly, Aberdeenshire

THE GLENDRONACH

18 years old

43 %
Distilled: 1976
Bottled: 1994
Matured in
Seasoned Oak and Sherry Casks
The Glendronach Distillery Co, Limited
Forgue by Huntly, Aberdeenshire

GLENDRONACH

9 years old

59 %
VINTAGE 1987
Matured in a Sherry Butt
Distilled 29.5.87
Bottled 11.3.97
Butt No. 61
660 bottles
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

GLENDRONACH

9 years old

43 %
VINTAGE 1987
Matured in a Sherry Butt
Bottled 15.2.97
Distilled 29.5.87
Cask No. 58
880 bottles
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

GLENDRONACH

13 years old

46 %
Distilled: 1990
Bottled: 2003
Cask Ref: MM 579
Cask Type: Bourbon
Not Chill Filtered
Not Coloured
Ideal Drinking Strenght
Rigorously Selected
'Clachan A Choin
Murray McDavid Ltd,
Glasgow and London

GLENDRONACH

Aged 33 years

51,4 %

1 9 7 5
THREE GENERATIONS
distilled in 1975 by ALBERT SHAND
Distiller and Glendronach Manager
filled into the cask by EUAN SHAND
who also coopered the cask and
finally bottled in 2008 by ANDREW SHAND
Euan's son
The Shand Family have had links with Glendronach since the inauguration of the

distillery in 1826 and never more so than in the last 50 years.

THE GLENDRONACH

Aged 12 year

43 %

ORIGINAL
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Matured in a Combination of the Finest
Pedro Ximinez and Oloroso Sherry Casks
Non Chill Filtered
Natural Colour
The Glendronach Distillery Co, Limited
Forge by Huntly, Aberdeenshire

Colour: Deep amber –red gold

Nose: Sweet, creamy, vanilla, with hints of ginger. Autumn fruits

Palate: Rich, creamy, silky – smooth. Warm, rich oak and sherry, sweetness

full mouth feel, raisins, soft fruits. Spicy with medium length and a dry

finish

Finish: Long, full and firm, slightly nutty

Master Distiller Billy Walker

THE GLENDRONACH

Aged 15 years

46 %

REVIVAL
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Exlusively Matured in the finest Spanish
Oloroso Sherry Casks
Non Chill Filtered
Natural Colour
The Glendronach Distillery Co Limited,
Forgue by Huntly, Aberdeenshire

Colour: Deep gold with lovely mahogany heart

Nose: Incredible concentration of aromas. Treacle toffee and chocolate orange.

nutty notes and vanilla

Palate: A very dynamic and full bodied dram. Chewy with coffee, chocolate and

treacle scones

Finish: A veritable feast to enliven the senses

Billy Walker, Master Distiller

THE GLENDRONACH

Aged 18 years

46 %

ALLARDICE

HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Exclusively Matured in the Finest
Spanish Oloroso Sherry Casks
Date Bottled April 09
Lot 1
6600 Numbered Bottles
Non Chill Filtered
Natural Colour
The Glendronach Distillery Co, Limited,
Forgue by Huntly, Aberdeenshire

Colour: Bright deep gold with a tawny centre

Nose: Lovely and sweet. Fufge, fruit compote and glacier morello cherries. Fabu-

lous complexity

Palate: Remarkable flavours of stewed fruits and all – spice, aged Oloroso and toas-

ted walnut bread combined with chocolate orange

Finish: Tremendously complex and long

Billy Walker Master Distiller

THE GLENDRONACH

Aged 38 Years

49.4 %

1 9 7 1
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Date Distilled 25/02/1971
SINGLE CASK
Cask type OLOROSO BUTT
Cask Number 483
Date Bottled 07/2009
544 Numbered Bottles, numbered by hand
The Glendronach Distillery Co, Limited,
Forgue by Huntly, Aberdeenshire

James Allardice 1780 – 1849

Inventor, Pioner, Entrepreneur. Founder of The Glendronach Distillery

Founded in 1826 by James Allardice, Glendronach was one of the very first licensed

Distilleries. Allardice was a colourful character and stories abound as to how he

promoted his whisky with entrepreneurial flair. He was also a pioneer of wood

finishing and would have celebrated today’s superb Glen Dronach. Matured in the

finest casks the Glen Dronach is a perfectly balanced, smooth, creamy, full – bodied

single malt Scotch whisky

Each year our Master Distiller, Billy Walker, specially selects a handful of individual

casks from the warehouses at Glemdronach Distillery, to be bottled as GlenDronach

‘Limited Release’.

With maturing whiskies dating back as far as 1968, there is a vast selection of barrels,

hogsheads, puncheons and butts to choose from.

Each of these casks displays truly remarkable characteristics, the malt whisky contained

within having developed exceptionally during the long maturation process

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Sultanas, raisins,cinnamon and dark chocolate

Appearance: Rich sherry mahogany

Palate: Rich coffee and chocolate with figs, sultanas and strong sherry notes

THE GLENDRONACH

Aged 14 years

46 %
VIRGIN OAK FINISH
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Finished in The Finest
American Virgin Oak Casks
Distilled, Matured and Bottled by
The Proprietors
The Glendronach Distillery Limited
Licensed since 1826
Forgue, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.
This unique expression was initially matured in re – charred puncheons and there-

casks, which have given the final whisky its own range of unique flavours and aromas.

Appearance: Light gold, freshly harvested straw

Nose: Toasted oak elements which are so intense that smoky attributes emerge. Sweet

and lush tropical fruits rise with prominence. Banana and cacao, with roasted coconuts.

Palate: Spiced ginger and cinnamon cake with a beautiful smoky twist. Creamed desiccated

coconut, hazelnuts and fresh buttered toast.

Finish: A glorious nut feast with superb depth.

Billy Walker Master Distiller

THE GLENDRONACH Since 1826
CASK STRENGHT

55,2 %

BATCH 2
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Matured in a Combination of the
Finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez
Sherry Casks
Bottled at Cask Strenght
Non Chill Filtered
Natural Colour
Dstilled, Matured and Bottled by
The Proprietors
The Glendronach Distillery Co, Ltd,
Forgue by Huntly, Aberdeenshire

JAMES ALLARDICE 1780 – 1849

Inventor, Pioneer, Enterpreneur

Founder of The Glendronach Distillery

Appearance: Rich golden amber with a

crimson heart.

Nose: Wonderful rich aromas of honey

Drenched raisins and sultanas.

Candied ginger and orange peel are spiced

with a beautifully delicate back note of

warm oak.

Palate: A perfectly balanced traditional

sherried character. An explosion of cho-

colate coated raisins and zest of orange,

mellowed with sweet warm oak spices,

hints of soft toffee and gentle sugared

almonds.

Finish: A uniquely balanced classic finish.

Billy Walker, Master Distiller

THE GLENDRONACH

Aged 10 years old

55,3 %
SINGLE CASK
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled 2 0 0 2
Specially selected during
The Usquebach Society
Whisky Trip March 6th 2013
Date distilled 19/07/2002
Fresh Virgin Oak Hogshead
Cask Number 1743
312 Numbered Bottles
The GlenDronach Distillery Co, Ltd
Forgue by Huntly, Aberdeenshire

The GlenDronach was chosen in a momentous time in the history of the Usquebach Society.

Twenty eight members made the pilgrimage to one of the most scenic distilleries in Scotland, to adore eight of the highest quality samples of the finest nectar GlenDronach has to offer.

The angels guided us to thid Virgin Oak expression which is as fresh as a woman just out of the shower, as multi – layered as a brilliant musician and with the depth of an accomplished

novelist.

This GlenDronach has a story, listen to it, take it in, and enjoy.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Butter shortbread and sweet oak spices combine perfectly with golden syrup over fresh fruit salad.

Appearance: Rich harvest gold

Palate: A vibrant burst of toasted oak floods over sour Morello cherries aand gooseberries.

A gentle herbal back note completes the complex balance of flavours.

THE GLENDRONACH

LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
Aged 8 years

43 %
Fine Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled and Bottled
in Scotland
Bourbon & Sherry Cask
Special Bottling for
Whisky Manufaktur
Since 2000
Limited Edition
Non Chill Filtered
Natural Colour
Whisky Manufaktur, Berlin

THE GLENDRONACH

Licensed since 1826
8 years old

46 %
THE HIELAN
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Matured and Married in a
combination of the finest
Bourbon & Sherry Casks
Non Chill Filtered
Natural Colour
Distilled, Matured and Bottled by
The Proprietors
The Glendronach Distillery Limited
Forgue, Huntly, Aberdeenshire

Tasting Notes:

Appearance: Amber with a burnished copper glow

Nose: Rounded waves of orange blossom and citrus twist flow over buttery

golden sultanas, sundried raisins and ripe yellow plums all dusted with

a touch of vanilla

Palate: Crisp, vibrant oak spices warm soaked sultanas, apricot jam and

gingerbread, all rounded by delicate hints of butterscotch, cocos and toasted

almonds.

Finish: Classic sherry overtones with a contrasting crisp dimension demonstrate

the complexity of the traditional Highland character.

Billy Walker Master Distiller.

GLENDRONACH

Age 9 years

58.3 %
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
FROM A SINGLE CASK

Date Distilled: 8th June 2006

Cask Type: Refill Barrel / ex Bourbon
Outturn: One of Only 172 Bottles
Society Single Cask: Code: 9 6 . 8
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
Sweet, Fruity & Mellow

"Relaxing in an Alpine meadow"

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle has been

passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world and approved for re-

lease as a Society bottling.

Only single cask whiskies that promise to intrigue, entertain and delight our members

are selected, true to our motto: “TO LEAVE NO NOSE UPTURNED “.

The nose is atractively buttery – lemon puffs, croissants, meringues and vanilla: fresh

laundry in summer meadows and light herbal notes. The palate is bathed in honey,

with crisp white wine, camomile, mint dried raspberry and mojitos, spicy heat at full

strenght.

The nose was attractive, buttery, light and smmery – lemon puff biscuits, croissants,

honey, merinque, strawberry, vanilla, flower meadows and fresh laundry – plus

medicinal, herbal hints of Covonia and Jaegermeister.

The palate was bathed in honey, which, with some camomile, mint and crisp white

wine notes suggested mojitos,

Ar natural strenght the palate also displayed muscular heat (woody spices and Extra

Strong Mints).

The reduced nose took us to summer Alpine meadows where we relaxed, making

daisy chains and sipping home – made lemonade.

The palate was now much more easy – drinking – barley sweetness, dried raspberries

In cereal and light liquorice on the finish.

THE GLENDRONACH

Aged 33 years

40 %

Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky

Matured only in The Finest

Olorosos Sherry Casks

Limited Edition

Numbered Bottles

The GlenDronach Distillery,

Forgue, Huntly, Aberdeenshire

Produced by Allied Distillers Ltd, Kilmalid, Stirling Road, Dumbarton.

Pernod, Avenue du Marechal Foch, Creteil, Cedex.

Robert Hicks, Master Blender.

Speyside
THE GLENDRONACH

OLOROSO SHERRY, RICH, DRIED FRUIT

Forgue, Huntly, Aberdeenshire. Licentiehouder: Wm. Teacher & Sons Ltd. Werkmaatschappij van Caledonian Malt Whisky Distillers Ltd. Onderdeel van Allied Distillers Ltd. De wijnen drankdivisie van Hiram Walker Ltd. Eigendom van Allied Lyons Plc.

Gesticht in 1826 door James Allardyce, samen met een syndikaat van lokale zakenmensen. Het was één van de eerste legale distilleerderijen in de Hooglanden. De naam komt van de nabij gelegen Dronac Burn.
Door wanbeheer, gevolgd door een grote brand in 1837, eindigde het beheer van James Allardyce.

Walter Scott, een ervaren distillateur, die het vak had geleerd te Teaninich, werd de volgende eigenaar. Hij was heel succesvol, en welvarend.

In 1920 werd The Glendronach verkocht aan Captain Charles Grant, de vijfde zoon van William Grant van Glenfiddich.
De familie Grant bleef 40 jaar eigenaar van The Glendronach tot in 1960 George Grey Grant de distilleerderij verkocht aan Wm. Teacher & Sons Ltd.

Gedurende de jaren 1966 - 1967 werd de distilleerderij verbouwd en de kapaciteit verdubbeld.

Wm. Teachers & Sons Ltd werd in 1976 overgenomen door Allied Brewers. In 1981 werd Allied Brewers deel van Allied - Lyons.
In 1987 werd het Canadese concern Hiram Walker - Gooderham & Worts overgenomen nadat al eerder de helft van het aandelenkapitaal in hun bezit was.

Een poging om The Distillers Company Ltd over te nemen mislukte.

Allied Distillers kocht in 1990 de drankendivisie van Whitbread, ook een bierbrouwer, en kreeg toen The Tormore en Laphroaig in zijn bezit, met de merken Long John en Black Bottle.
Met de fusie met Domecq kwam ook Lochside bij de groep.

Glendronach is Keltisch voor dal van de bramen en ligt vlakbij een roekenkolonie.
Glendronach werd in 1995 (tijdelijk) gesloten.
De vier ketels worden met kolen gestookt. Het proceswater komt van de Source Burn, het koelwater van de Dronach Burn.
Ongeveer 15 % wordt door Glendronach zelf gemout. De gerst komt van boeren in de omgeving.
Op 1 Mei 2002 wordt Glendronach weer opgestart, men gaat 270.000 liter spirit produceren dit jaar, volgend jaar 1.000.000 liter.

De mouterij blijft gesloten.

De Mash tun is 3.72 ton. De Wash backs, negen stuks, hebben elk een inhoud van 18.125 liter.
De twee Wash stills hebben elk een inhoud van 13.635 liter, de twee Spirit stills elk 6800 liter.
De capaciteit was 900.000 liter.

In Mei 2001, na een periode van zes jaar, wordt Glendronach opgestart door Paul Porter -Smith, de managing - director van Allied Distillers Ltd.
Tot eind December 2001 werd er 270.000 liter spirit geproduceerd te Glendronach, het is de bedoeling dat in 2002 ëën miljoen liter alcohol wordt geproduceerd.
Het laatste jaar voor zijn sluiting in 1996 werd er 300.000 liter spirit geproduceerd. De nieuwe spirit wordt nu gelagerd in first - fill American bourbon casks.

Februari 2003
Dumbarton Distillery sluit. Het komplex waar ook het hoofdkantoor van Allied was gevestigd, hergde ook de Dumbarton Grain distilleerderij, en ook werden de malt whiskies Lomond, waarvan slechts één botteling bekend is, uitgebracht door de Scotch Malt.Whisky Society, The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh onder code nummer 98.1, en Inverleven.
De capaciteit van de Grain distilleerderij Strathclyde wordt vergroot tot 39 miljoen liter spirit per jaar, dat was 32 miljoen liter.
Het hoofdkantoor wordt gevestigd te Kilmalid.
Het enorme gebouwencomplex is verkocht aan twee projectontwikkelaars.

2005 The distillery sluit een half jaar, om de ketels om te bouwen van kolen gestookte tot indirect met stoom gestookte ketels. De distilleerderij wordt in September weer opgestart

Chivas Brothers onderdeel van Pernod Ricard, wordt de nieuwe eigenaar door de overname van Allied Domecq

2008 September ongeveer 4 jaar nadat Billy Walker, samen met twee Zuid - Afrikaanse compagnons Geoff Bell en Wayne Kiesewetter Ben Riach hebben overgenomen wordt nu Glendronach gekocht
Nu worden er van Glendronach alleen een 12- en 33 jaar oude whisky uitgebracht

De voorraad van Glendronach zou van heel hoge kwaliteit zijn, vooral oudere whiskies gelagerd op sherry vaten, alleen de whisky van de laatste jaren zijn gerijpt op Bourbon vaten

1826

Founded by a consortium led by

James Allardice
1837

The major part of the distillery is

destroyed in a fire

1852

Walter Scott from Teaninich takes over
1887

Walter Scott dies and the distillery

is taken over by a consortium from Leith
1920

Charles Grant, son of the founder of

Glenfiddich Distillery, buys Glendronach

for 9.000 Pounds and production starts 3

months later
1960

William teacher & Sons buys Glendronach
1966 - 1967

The number of stills is increased from two

to four
1976

A visitor centre is opened
1976

Allied Breweries takes over William Teacher

& Sons
1991

Glendronach is one of a selected few in

Caledonian Malts by Allied Distillers
1996

Glendronach is mothballed
2002

Production starts on 14th May
2005

Glendronach 33 years old is launched

and the distillery closes for six months

to rebuild from coal to indirect firing by

steam and reopens in September Chivas

Brothers, Pernod Ricard becomes new owner
through the acquisition of Allied Domecq
2008

Pernod Ricard sells Glendronach to owners

of Ben Riach, headed by Billy Walker, for

15.000.000 Pounds

2009

Relaunch 12,15,18 year old

2010

A 31 year old, a 1966 SC and 11 Vintages

a Visitor Centre and four Wood Finishes

released

2011

The 21 year old Parliament and 11 Vntages

are released

2012

Several Vintages are released

2013

A 44 year old releases and again a number

of Vintages

2014

Nine SC are released

2015

The Hielan 8 years old released

2016

Brown Forman buys Glendronach

Peated Glendronach released

Octaves is released

2017

Several SC are relased

2018

Two bottlings for duty free released:

10 year old Forgue, 16 year old Boysmill

2019

A Port Wood Finish released, 18 of the Cask Bottlings are releasedPeated,

Match

2020

Capacity 2,000.000 Ltrs / Output 2000.000 Ltrs

Ltrs

2021

Cask Strenght batch 9 is released

2022

A 50 year old released

Although known for maturing predominantly in

sherry casks since reopening in 2002 the whole

production has been filled in bourbon casks

James Allardice (1780 - 1849)
Inventor, Pioneer, Entrepreneur,

Founder of The Glendronach Distillery
Founded in 1826 by James Allardice

Glen Dronach was one of the very first

licensed distilleries
Allardice was a colourful character and

stories abound as to how he promoted

his whisky with entrepreneurial flair.
He was also a pioneer of wood finishing

and would have celebrated today's superb

Glen Dronach

Matured in a combination of the best

Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks -

the Glen Dronach is a perfectly balanced,

smooth, creamy full - bodied single malt

Scotch whisky

The GlenDronach distillery in the Forgue valley

in Aberdeenshire is named after the source of its

water; the Dronach burn

It has a history of enterprising owners from the

flamboyant James Allardice to the ambitious

Walter Scott. Although times have moved on the

process used to create the GlenDronachhave

remained largely unchanged.

Today's malt is created using great Oregon pine

washbacks and the same shaped still used in 1826

October 2009
There is an investment in sherry cask of 5.000.000

Pounds in the next 4 or 5 years and an investment

of 2.000.000 in brand promotion

In 2008 20.000 bottles of Glendronach were sold,

2009 150.000.

The new owners of Glendronach have selected five

Vintages for their first series of single cask bottlings

All five in the traditional Glendronach style: richly

sherried, from Oloroso Butts.

Each will bottled at cask strength, natural colour,

no chill filtered and bottles are individually numbered

by hand and will be housed in a de luxe gift box

The full cask list in 2009 is:

1971     cask 483   38 years old
1972     cask 719   37 years old
1992     cask 1140 16 years old
1993     cask   523 16 years old
1996     cask   193 13 years old

The GlenDronach was chosen in a momentous

time in the history of the Usquebach Society.

Twenty eight members made the pilgrimage

to one of the most scenic distilleries in Scotland,
to adore eight of the highest quality samples of

the finest nectar GlenDronach has to offer.

The angels guided us to thid Virgin Oak expression

which is as fresh as a woman just out of the shower,

as multi - layered as a brilliant musician and with

the depth of an accomplishednovelist.

This GlenDronach has a story, listen to it, take it in,

and enjoy.

From its hillside home in the Scottish Highlands,

The GlenDronach Distillery has been creating the

finest richly sherried single malts for nearly 200 years.

In 1826 the exuberant and extroverted James

Allardice founded the distillery and produced his

‘Guid GlenDronach’ single malt. Down the years,

the distillery he created has thrived under the

stewardship of far-sighted investors like

Walter Scott in 1847 and Captain Charles Grant in

1920. In more recent times, GlenDronach was

bought in 1960 by William Teacher & Sons.

Originally, all of the workers at GlenDronach lived

on site, including the distillery manager, staff,

excise man, brewer and all of their families.

To this day many of the old houses still remain.

The most famous of them all is Glen House, which

was built in 1771. Home to many of the distillery’s

managers, the grand Georgian building could

probably tell a tale or two. Rumour has it; the front

room is haunted by a Spanish lady, who travelled

over to Scotland in a sherry cask. Apparently she is

quite partial to the odd tipple now and then. In 1968,

GlenDronach was released as a single malt brand

for the first time and the brand’s reputation grew

from strength to strength. In 2008, nothing less than

a complete renaissance began. The BenRiach Distillery

Company became GlenDronach’s proud new owner.

While time can never stand still, the commitment of

the team at GlenDronach will ensure that the distinctive

practices that have always defined the distillery will live

on – the most influential of these, its return to independent

ownership.

GLEN HOUSE

Originally, all of the workers at GlenDronach lived on site,

including the distillery manager, staff, excise man, brewer

and all of their families.To this day many of the old houses

still remain.

The most famous of them all is Glen House, which was built

in 1771. Home to many of the distillery’s managers, the

grand Georgian building could probably tell a tale or two.

Rumour has it; the front room is haunted by a Spanish lady,

who travelled over to Scotland in a sherry cask.

Apparently she is quite partial to the odd tipple now and then.

Today, Glen House is used for corporate entertainment and

is enjoyed by guests from around the world.

1771

GLEN HOUSE WAS BUILT

The house was originally called Boynsmill

and was renamed by James Allardice when the

distillery was built in 1826.

1826

The Distillery was Founded

The GlenDronach Distillery was one

of the first licensed distilleries in Scotland.

1830

Bought Over

The distillery was bought over by

Walter Scott (From Teaninich).

1860

The Largest

GlenDronach was the largest duty

paying distillery in the Scottish Highlands.

Over 50 people lived on site at this time,

including all of the workers and their families.

1920

Captain Charles Grant

Captain Charles Grant bought over the distillery.

Charles was the son of the founder of the

Glenfiddich Distillery

1960

William Teacher & Sons

The distillery was bought over by William Teacher

& Sons.

Teacher's expanded the number of stills at

GlenDronach from two to four.

1996

GlenDronach was mothballed

The distillery was mothballed for a number

of years by its owners Allied Distillers.

2002

Distillery re Opened

GlenDronach was once again in full production.

2005

Chivas Brothers take over

Allied Distillers was taken over by Pernod Ricard

and the distillery was passed to Chivas Brothers.

2005

GlenDronach converts to steam heating

The distillery was one of the last to heat the stills

by coal fire.

2008

GlenDronach was taken over by the BenRiach

Distillery Company Ltd.

2015

Global Whisky Distiller of the Year

The BenRiach Distillery Company was named

Global Whisky Distiller of the Year at the 2015

Icons of Whisky Awards. A fantastic achievement

for a small privately-owned independent company

to win this prestigious global award.

Inside are a traditional rake and plough mash tun,

wooden washbacks and four stills which were coal

fired until 2005, the last in Scotland to be heated in

this way.

Today there is just a quiet susurration of steam in

the stillhouse, but the oddly shaped wash still and

the plain sides of the spirit still cut back on reflux,

helping to build weight in the spirit.

These days, ex-Sherry casks are the distillery’s signature

style. Some is 100% Sherry matured, some is started in

ex-Bourbon casks to pick up vanilla sweetness before

being racked into ex-Sherry.

One of a trio of distilleries in the Garioch, Glendronach was

founded in 1826 by a partnership of local farmers headed

by James Allardice. Under his charismatic lead, it built a

strong reputation (it was on sale in London soon after its

foundation) but tragedy struck in 1837 when a fire virtually

destroyed the distillery. The bad news continued when

Allardice went bankrupt in 1842.

His promotional activities had however stood the whisky

in good stead. Seeing its potential, Walter Scott (not the author)

came forward in 1852, and rebuilt the distillery into its current

condition. Its next most significant owner arrived in 1920,

when Capt. Charles Grant, the youngest son of William Grant of

Glenfiddich, bought it. It remained with the family for 40 years

when it was sold to Wm Teacher & Sons. who added a second

pair of stills in 1967.

It passed into the orbit of Allied Distillers in 1976, when that firm

purchased the Teacher’s estate. In 1991, it was released as two

12-year-old expressions – one aged in ex-Bourbon, one in ex-

Sherry – a real innovation for the time, but the brand never

received any serious backing. Placed in mothballs between 1996

and 2002, it ended up with Pernod Ricard which 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 was purchased by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey

producer Brown-Forman in 2016 along with its acquisition of

The BenRiach Distillery Company.

1826

The distillery is founded by the

Glendronach Distillery Co,

a partnership of local farmers

headed by James Allardice

1837

Fire strikes the building, virtually

destroying it

1842

The company goes into administration

1852

Ex-Teaninich manager Walter Scott

purchases

Glendronach and rebuilds the distillery

1887

The distillery is purchased by a

partnership from Leith

1916

Glendronach is bought by the Crown

1920

Having remained silent under government

ownership,

Glendronach is purchased by

Captain Charles Grant

and is reopened

1960

Glendronach, having remained in

Grant family ownership

for 40 years, is sold to William Teachers

& Sons

1966

Two additional stills are installed, bringing

Glendronach

up to four

1976

Teachers becomes part of Allied Distillers

1991

A pair of Glendronach 12-year-olds are

released

1996

The distillery is mothballed

2002

Production resumes

2005

Glendronach switches from coal fire

heating to steam,

becoming the last in Scotland to switch

over

2008

Now owner Pernod Ricard sells the distillery

to the BenRiach Company

2016

Glendronach is sold to US company

Brown-Forman

along with the rest of the BenRiach

Distillery Company

CAPACITY (MLPA) i

1.4

CONDENSER TYPE i

Standard condensers

FERMENTATION TIME i

60-96hrs

GRIST WEIGHT (T) i

3.76

HEAT SOURCE i

Diesel, external heat exchangers

MALT SPECIFICATION i

Optic and Concerto - less than 2ppm

MALT SUPPLIER i

Port Gordon maltings

MASH TUN MATERIAL i

Cast iron body, copper dome

MASH TUN TYPE i

Conventional drainage

NEW-MAKE PHENOL LEVEL i

Natural occurring phenol value

NEW-MAKE STRENGTH i

69-70%

SINGLE MALT PERCENTAGE i

20%

SPIRIT STILL CHARGE (L) i

6,000

SPIRIT STILL SHAPE i

Onion

SPIRIT STILL SIZE (L) i

9,000

STILLS i

4 (2 wash, 2 spirit)

WAREHOUSING i

6 warehouses

(3 traditional dunnage and 3 rack

warehouses)

WASH STILL CHARGE (L) i

9,000

WASH STILL SHAPE i

Onion

WASH STILL SIZE (L) i

12,000

WASHBACK SIZE (L) i

18,000

WASHBACK TYPE i

Wood

WASHBACKS i

WATER SOURCE i

Balnoon Spring

WORT CLARITY i

Bright

YEAST TYPE i

Mauri liquide yeast

OWNERS

The BenRiach Distillery Company

2008 - present

CURRENT OWNER

Glendronach Distillery Company

PREVIOUS OWNERS

Pernod Ricard

2005 - 2008

Allied Domecq

1994 - 2005

Allied Lyons

1978 - 1994

Allied Breweries

1976 - 1978

William Teacher & Sons

1960 - 1976

Captain Charles Grant

1920 - 1960

Government ownership

1916 - 1920

John Somerville & Co

1887 - 1916

Walter Scott

1852 - 1887

James Allardice

1826 - 1842

BROWN-FORMAN’S BENRIACH BUY

Jack Daniel’s owner Brown-Forman has spent £285m

to buy the BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh

single malts. But has the US spirits giant overpaid for

the privilege? Richard Woodard investigates.

Trade secrets: There has been much speculation around

the sums involved in the BenRiach deal

‘Clearly people want to be in this industry, though the

opportunities are limited. The price of entry to the industry

is also very high now.’

That’s Billy Walker, speaking to The Scotsman two years ago.

Following the £285m paid by Brown-Forman to acquire

The BenRiach Distillery Company – the business of which he

is managing director – those words seem remarkably prophetic.

The deal for the BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh

distilleries, announced last week, is already being described

in some quarters as ‘a Billy Walker deal’ – in other words,

one negotiated by a person with the happy knack of buying

something at a knock-down price – then selling it on at a

considerable profit.

Just how big is that profit? Some reports have suggested that

the Walker family will net up to £95m from the deal – never

mind the sums collected by Walker’s fellow investors,

South Africans Geoff Bell and Wayne Kieswetter.

Given that the company paid Chivas Brothers £5m for BenRiach

back in 2003, and bought Glenglassaugh in 2013, five years after

it too had changed hands for £5m… Sure, the deal also includes

GlenDronach, a bottling plant in Newbridge and the company’s

Edinburgh headquarters but, from a seller’s point of view, the

maths look rather attractive.

Indeed, some of those attending the Spirit of Speyside Whisky

Festival over the past few days were quick to suggest that

Brown-Forman had paid £100m over the odds for the company.

Brown-Forman has worked in Scotch before. My first contact with

the company, more than 15 years ago, came at the annual TFWA

duty free trade fair held in Cannes, when it was marketing

Glenmorangie alongside Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort and

Woodford Reserve.

That association – selling Glenmo in various markets, including

North America and travel retail – ceased when Moët Hennessy

bought the Glenmorangie business in 2005 (by the way, the French

company only paid £15m more – £300m – for a company that

included Glenmorangie, a revived Ardbeg and Glen Moray, and

they were accused of overspending at the time).

Spreading the risk: Is the BenRiach deal part of a diversification

strategy?

Anyway, these guys know what they’re doing when it comes to brown

spirits, with Jack Daniel’s an unparalleled masterclass in 21st-century

brand-building. They’ve exited what they thought were the less

attractive strands of the business – selling Southern Comfort and Tuaca

to rival US spirits business Sazerac for $542.4m in March this year – and

decided that the best way to surf the whisky revival is to diversify.

First it was Irish whiskey – the company announced its acquisition of

Slane Castle Irish Whiskey Ltd, alongside a $50m investment in a

new distillery, in June last year – and now it’s Scotch.

This move into ‘rival’ whisky segments, at a time when American

whiskey is flying at home and overseas, works in a couple of ways,

using the receipts of Jack’s success (and of the Sazerac divestments)

to move into two equally buoyant spirits areas: Irish whiskey,

currently the fastest-growing spirits category on the planet, and single

malt Scotch, whose ascent (particularly in the US) is being

constrained by supply, rather than demand.

In this way, the deal also constitutes a spreading of risk; if the American

revival stutters (and it is, at least partly, driven by flavour innovations

such as Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, which are already showing

signs of losing momentum), then a presence in the Irish and Scotch

single malt segments might help to counteract that slowdown.

Consider another emerging deal, announced in the past 24 hours and

involving Southern Comfort’s new owner, Sazerac: the company has

entered into exclusive negotiations to buy the Paddy blended Irish

whiskey brand from Pernod Ricard-owned Irish Distillers. Another

American spirits company moving into a fast-moving, overseas whisky

category? Is this an emerging pattern?

Whether symptomatic of a nascent trend or not, the Brown-Forman/

BenRiach acquisition – and its price-tag – has been driven by two

overriding factors: the perceived potential of relatively under-exploited

single malt brands; and the scarcity of businesses of this type and

scale that are for sale – the ‘price of entry’ mentioned by Billy Walker

in his Scotsman interview.

For those reasons, whatever the tittle-tattle and sharp intakes of

breath at the sums involved, you suspect that both parties are more

than happy with the deal.

GLENDRONACH LAUNCHES GRANDEUR BATCH 9

February 2018

The GlenDronach distillery is launching Batch 9 of its Grandeur expression,

a 24-year-old single malt made from a vatting of three different vintages.

Sherried malt: GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 9 has been exclusively

matured in Sherry butts

The GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 9 is comprised of liquid distilled in

1990, 1992 and 1993, and aged in Spanish oak Sherry butts.

Just 1,487 bottles of the Grandeur Batch 9 is being produced, with

each individual bottle sealed with wax and numbered by hand.

Bottled at 48.7% abv, the whisky is non-chill-filtered and said to

offer notes of ‘stone fruit, baked quince and glazed cherries on a

bed of sandalwood’ with a ‘velvet’ finish.

GlenDronach master blender Rachel Barrie said: ‘Grandeur Batch

9 is a single malt of finesse, powerful complexity and persistence,

reaching heights of maturity and depth of character that approach

single malt perfection.

‘GlenDronach Grandeur is the pinnacle of the signature style,

representing rich layers of Highland heritage and terroir.’

The whisky is the ninth expression in a series of limited edition

whiskies, released by the Highland distillery under the Grandeur name.

It will be available for around £450 from specialist whisky stores

worldwide from February.

GLENDRONACH LAUNCHES 15 SINGLE

CASK MALTS

February 2018

Highland distillery GlenDronach is releasing

15 Sherry and Port cask-matured single malt

whiskies as part of Batch 16 of its annual

cask release programme.

GlenDronach single cask releases batch 16

Single casks: GlenDronach's latest cask

releases feature 14 Sherry-matured malts,

plus one aged in a Port pipe

The whiskies, distilled between 1989 and

2006, range from 11 to 28 years old and

have been matured exclusively in Spanish

oak Sherry butts and puncheons.

However the range also includes a

13-year-old matured in a Port Pipe, an

unusual addition to GlenDronach’s annual

cask release programme, which was

chosen to highlight the distillery’s ‘finesse

and ripe bramble fruitiness’.

GlenDronach master blender Rachel Barrie

said: ‘The Batch 16 cask selection showcases

facets of the GlenDronach house style; robust,

elegant, fruity and full-bodied.

‘Each cask individually demonstrates rich layers

of Sherry cask maturation found in every

GlenDronach expression; from the 28-year-old

Sherry butt distilled in November 1989 with the

mellow maturity of rich fruitcake, to the 22-year-

old PX puncheon distilled in June 1995 with

sweet treacle toffee and manuka honey.’

Each cask will yield between 513 and 698 bottles,

with prices ranging between £77 to £310.

The 15 expressions feature in Batch 16 are:

GlenDronach 2006, 11-year-old,

Cask #1979 (PX puncheon), 679 bottles, 57.2% abv, £77

GlenDronach 2005, 12-year-old,

Cask #1451 (PX puncheon), 698 bottles, 56.1% abv, £82

GlenDronach 2004, 13-year-old,

Cask #3342 (Port pipe), 643 bottles, 55.4% abv, £90

GlenDronach 2002, 15-year-old,

Cask #4648 (PX puncheon), 678 bottles, 54.7% abv, £110

GlenDronach 1995, 22-year-old,

Cask #4038 (PX puncheon), 681 bottles, 55.1% abv, £180

GlenDronach 1995, 22-year-old,

Cask #3311 (PX puncheon), 518 bottles, 50.3% abv, £180

GlenDronach 1993, 24-year-old,

Cask #445 (oloroso butt), 649 bottles, 52.4% abv, £205

GlenDronach 1993, 24-year-old,

Cask #55 (oloroso butt), 567 bottles, 56.7% abv, £205

GlenDronach 1992, 25-year-old,

Cask #334 (oloroso butt), 592 bottles, 58.5% abv, £230

GlenDronach 1992, 25-year-old,

Cask #127 (oloroso butt), 636 bottles, 50.9% abv, £230

GlenDronach 1992, 25-year-old,

Cask #103 (oloroso butt), 517 bottles, 56.7% abv, £230

GlenDronach 1990, 27-year-old,

Cask #7902 (PX puncheon), 632 bottles, 52.1% abv, £270

GlenDronach 1990, 27-year-old,

Cask #7003 (PX puncheon), 617 bottles, 55.3% abv, £270

GlenDronach 1990, 27-year-old,

Cask #1014 (PX puncheon), 641 bottles, 50.9% abv, £270

GlenDronach 1989, 28-year-old,

Cask #5476 (PX puncheon), 546 bottles, 49.9% abv, £310

All 15 bottlings will be available to buy from specialist

retailers in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and

Canada from this month

GLENDRONACH LAUNCHES GRANDEUR BATCH 9

February 2018

The GlenDronach distillery is launching Batch 9 of its

Grandeur expression, a 24-year-old single malt made

from a vatting of three different vintages.

GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 9

Sherried malt: GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 9 has

been exclusively matured in Sherry butts

The GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 9 is comprised of

liquid distilled in 1990, 1992 and 1993, and aged in

Spanish oak Sherry butts.

Just 1,487 bottles of the Grandeur Batch 9 is being

produced, with each individual bottle sealed with

wax and numbered by hand.

Bottled at 48.7% abv, the whisky is non-chill-filtered

and said to offer notes of ‘stone fruit, baked quince

and glazed cherries on a bed of sandalwood’ with a

‘velvet’ finish.

GlenDronach master blender Rachel Barrie said:

‘Grandeur Batch 9 is a single malt of finesse,

powerful complexity and persistence, reaching

heights of maturity and depth of character that

approach single malt perfection.

‘GlenDronach Grandeur is the pinnacle of the

signature style, representing rich layers of Highland

Heritage and terroir.’

The whisky is the ninth expression in a series of

limited edition whiskies, released by the Highland

distillery under the Grandeur name.

It will be available for around £450 from specialist

whisky stores worldwide from February.

GlenDronach's 2018 annual single cask releases

To review all 15 of GlenDronach’s (cask strength)

new single cask releases in one sitting is quite an

undertaking. Rather than split the collection up into

various batches, Becky Paskin has selected seven of

the most interesting bottlings for review.

All 15 expressions have been matured fully in a

Sherry cask – either a PX puncheon or oloroso butt –

aside from Cask #3342, a 13-year-old Port pipe.

It’s an anomaly for GlenDronach, renowned for its

allegiance to Sherry casks, but a triumph says Paskin,

who fawns over its rosé-esque qualities; a welcome

reminder of summer while in the clutches of the Beast

from the East.

The remaining six expressions have been bottled from

both kinds of Sherry cask and at multiple ages, from

11 to 28 years old, each demonstrating the ability of

individual casks to transform a spirit’s character on its

own terms. Today’s lesson is all about maturation, says

Paskin.

SCORING EXPLAINED

OVERVIEW

GlenDronach 11 Years Old, 2006,

Cask #1979

GlenDronach 13 Years Old, 2004,

Cask #3342

GlenDronach 22 Years Old, 1995,

Cask #3311

GlenDronach 24 Years Old, 1993,

Cask #55

GlenDronach 25 Years Old, 1992,

Cask #127

GlenDronach 27 Years Old, 1990,

Cask #1014

GlenDronach 28 Years Old, 1989,

Cask #5476

GLENDRONACH 11 YEARS OLD,

2006, CASK #1979

SCORE

ABV

57.2%

PRODUCTION TYPE

Single malt whisky

REGION

Highland

FLAVOUR CAMP

Fruity & Spicy

NOSE

Prickly, indicative of its high strength, but

give it time, as patience is rewarded with

toasted wood spices – vanilla, cinnamon

and clove – and rich, crumbly dark fruitcake

laced with ginger. Cookie dough with

chocolate chips hide an inkling of lemon

drops and stewed apples.

PALATE

Really soft, is this really 57%? The texture

is tongue coating, thick and velvety with

upfront wood spice (which adds grit) and

PX Sherry washing over the palate. Juicy

ripe fruits appear toward the centre which

slowly, gently, cook on the tongue becoming

sweeter, toasted, caramelised.

FINISH

Toasty and comforting.

CONCLUSION

Well-matured, although still youthfully vibrant.

A heartier Sherry character than GlenDronach’s

core 12-year-old bottling.

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME

Sunday morning baking with mum at the kitchen

counter.

GLENDRONACH 13 YEARS OLD, 2004,

CASK #3342

SCORE

ABV

55.4%

PRODUCTION TYPE

Single malt whisky

REGION

Highland

FLAVOUR CAMP

Fragrant & Floral

NOSE

An alluring pink-hued, rose-gold colour,

obtained from the Port that inhabited

the cask prior to being filled with GlenDronach

newmake. On first impression there’s a more

floral side to GlenDronach than we usually see,

with a hint of rose petal and Bergamot-scented

Earl Grey tea (but maybe that’s the colour

playing tricks on my mind). Certainly there’s

rich red wine (think South African Shiraz or

Cabernet) with autumnal forest fruits –

blackberries, raspberries – and an

accompanying nuttiness in the shape of almonds.

PALATE

Again, surprisingly soft and awash with ripe

berry fruits slathered with a vanilla cream.

A glass of chilled medium-sweet rosé on the side,

though some bitter tannins (from the tea?)

earth it somewhat. The intensity suddenly

builds in the centre into a crescendo of spices

before dying back again into an indulgently soft

cloud of berries, rosé and cream.

FINISH

Soft, slow, sweet.

CONCLUSION

Sublime. It’s only £90? Race you to the

store.

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME

Centre Court at Wimbledon as the sun

breaks through.

GLENDRONACH 22 YEARS OLD, 1995,

CASK #3311

SCORE

ABV

50.3%

PRODUCTION TYPE

Single malt whisky

REGION

Highland

FLAVOUR CAMP

Rich & Round

NOSE

An earthy dryness, with a hint of rancio

displayed as dead autumnal leaves.

There’s dried sultanas, apricots and… stale

Christmas cake. Water, however, brings it

somewhat back to life, releasing fresher

fruits – red apples, tinned peaches, orange

peel – and suppressing the earthiness.

PALATE

As the nose suggests, it’s very earthy up

front, with notes of rotting wood, liquorice

and Angelica root. Fruits take the form of

dried, but still juicy, cherries and apricots,

alongside a bitter walnut quality. With water

it takes on a more savoury note still, which

heightens the liquorice and, surprisingly,

develops a sweet pastry case character,

something akin to pecan pie.

FINISH

Dry, bitter, but fruity.

CONCLUSION

A highly complicated dram that begs

to be appreciated over a decent sitting.

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME

An old fruitcake lies half-eaten and forgotten

in the cupboard.

GLENDRONACH 24 YEARS OLD, 1993,

CASK #55

SCORE

ABV

56.7%

PRODUCTION TYPE

Single malt whisky

REGION

Highland

FLAVOUR CAMP

Rich & Round

NOSE

A herbal quality – cloves, anise, cardamom –

akin to a decent Amaro with a hint of cola cubes.

Thicker still, into black treacle and molasses;

we’re verging on dark navy rum territory.

There’s orange peel in the depths, and sticky

toffee pudding. The sweet, rich stickiness is

balanced by a savoury tone, like a chocolatey

stout or salted caramel.

PALATE

Immediately bold – thick and weighty with a

syrupy texture. More of that sticky toffee pudding,

with dark chewy toffee, currants and heavily

salted caramel chocolates – Reisen chocolate

chews. A deep charred bitterness permeates the

sweetness, adding grip, while those cardamoms

and anise warm the tongue.

FINISH

Dry and long.

CONCLUSION

Punchy and bold. This is a heavy dram, the

Guinness of GlenDronach.

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME

Mike Tyson makes a beeline for the pud.

GLENDRONACH 25 YEARS OLD, 1992,

CASK #127

SCORE

ABV

50.9%

PRODUCTION TYPE

Single malt whisky

REGION

Highland

FLAVOUR CAMP

Fruity & Spicy

NOSE

A dusty start, with sandalwood, and

fresh wood shavings. It transcends

into the Easter Bunny’s dream – Swiss

milk chocolate, honeycomb and praline –

but needs time to properly open up.

Therein lies dried fruit – there’s that citrus

peel, raisins and a soft apricot vibe.

PALATE

The honeycomb continues, with a more

generous helping of that dried fruit from

the nose. The chocolate follows, bitter

and crumbly this time, leading to a slight

prickle toward the middle as the heat from

the alcohol builds. It’s not the strongest

GlenDronach in the batch, but certainly feels it.

FINISH

A touch bitter, and really quite dry.

CONCLUSION

Matured in the same kind of cask as #55 and

for only an additional year, yet the difference

is remarkably striking. A real lesson in a cask’s

individual influence on its whisky.

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME

The Easter Bunny buried alive in a

makeshift coffin, along with all his eggs.

GLENDRONACH 27 YEARS OLD, 1990,

CASK #1014

SCORE

ABV

50.9%

PRODUCTION TYPE

Single malt whisky

REGION

Highland

FLAVOUR CAMP

Rich & Round

NOSE

A big nose; a full-frontal Sherry bomb.

We’re back to GlenDronach’s Christmas

cake character – baking spices, rich sponge

and dried fruit covered in marzipan. Water

releases aromas of thick toffee sauce and

caramel-coated popcorn, along with fresher

fruit notes of conference pear and lemon rind.

PALATE

A thick, oily texture, almost syrupy, permeated

by a prickling as those wood spices tap dance

across the tongue against a backdrop of rich

toffee sauce, Christmas cake, almonds and

dried fruit. With water it becomes bitter, like

an intensely dark chocolate verging on raw

cocoa, or an overly tannic red wine.

FINISH

Tingly, but long.

CONCLUSION

Full maturation for 27 years in a PX puncheon

has had its desired effect – big, bold and rich.

Sherry fans will be pleased, although I’d like to

see more complexity.

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME

Someone switches the cream for fruitcakes

at the school fair’s ‘pie the teacher’ fundraiser.

GLENDRONACH 28 YEARS OLD, 1989,

CASK #5476

SCORE

ABV

49.9%

PRODUCTION TYPE

Single malt whisky

REGION

Highland

FLAVOUR CAMP

Rich & Round

NOSE

Vibrant, refined and indulgent.

The fruit is rich – apricot liqueur, dates, dried

cherries coated in dark chocolate, Sherry-soaked

mince pie filling and dried citrus peel (clementines,

lemons) – the latter intensified with the addition

of water.

PALATE

A more delicately Sherried palate than we’ve

seen from the older GlenDronachs thus far,

with the layers of raisins, walnut, dried fruit

and spices far more discernable. Stone fruit,

such as plums, apricots, nectarines interweave

throughout, while deeper, earthier base notes of

prunes, coffeebeans, and a dying coal fire add

weight. It gets fruitier still with water but the

balance is lost.

FINISH

Earthy yet fruity, and long.

CONCLUSION

An elegantly matured GlenDronach, again from a

PX puncheon that has nurtured its spirit more delicately.

BROWN-FORMAN TO ACQUIRE THE GLENDRONACH,

BENRIACH, AND GLENGLASSAUGH SINGLE MALT

SCOTCH WHISKIES

Louisville, KY, April 27, 2016 – Brown-Forman

Corporation announced today that it has reached

definitive agreement to purchase The BenRiach

Distillery Company Limited for approximately £285

million. When completed, the purchase will bring

three outstanding Single Malt Scotch Whisky

brands into Brown-Forman’s growing whiskey

portfolio: The GlenDronach, BenRiach, and

Glenglassaugh. The purchase will include

brand trademarks, three malt distilleries, a

bottling plant, and the company’s headquarters

in Edinburgh, Scotland. The BenRiach Distillery

Company, which has a workforce of 165

employees including 55 seasonal and

casual workers, will operate as a subsidiary

of Brown-Forman.

“The acquisition of these super premium brands

will allow Brown-Forman to re-enter one of our

industry’s most exciting and consistent growth

segments, Single Malt Scotch Whisky,” said

Brown-Forman Chief Executive Officer Paul Varga.

“The Glendronach, BenRiach, and Glenglassaugh

single malt brands are rich in history and we

believe they will continue to prosper and grow in

our hands.”

Varga noted that Brown-Forman previously was

a minority shareholder of Glenmorangie plc and

marketed the Glenmorangie Single Malt Whisky

brand in the U.S. and Canada from 1992 to 2005

and in Continental Europe and certain Asian

markets from 2000 to 2005. Brown-Forman sold

its interest as part of Glenmorangie plc’s sale to

Moet Hennessy in 2005.

“We feel immensely privileged to have been custodians

of this business for the last 12 years, and to be

associated with these wonderful brands and great

distilleries,” said Billy Walker, managing director of

The BenRiach Distillery Company Limited. “Our team

have energized these distilleries and engaged creatively

and successfully with the premium end of the market.

We are very confident that Brown-Forman will take

The GlenDronach, BenRiach, and Glenglassaugh brands

to the next level and fulfill their full potential, and prove

to be worthy custodians of these historic distilleries.”

The GlenDronach Distillery, located in the hills of the

Scottish Highlands, was founded in 1826. GlenDronach

produces a range of ultra-premium single malt whiskies

and is most noted for its richly sherried whiskies. Located

in the heart of Speyside, The BenRiach Distillery began

making malt whisky in 1898 and is known for

experimenting with wood finishes producing whisky

from both non-peated and peated malted barley.

The Glenglassaugh Distillery, founded in 1875, is located

on the coast in the northern Scottish Highlands overlooking

the North Sea producing a coastal Highland malt.

The transaction, which is subject to customary closing

conditions, is expected to close on or about June 1, 2016.

For more than 145 years, Brown-Forman Corporation

has enriched the experience of life by responsibly

building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s & Cola,

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Gentleman Jack,

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Finlandia, Korbel, el Jimador,

Woodford Reserve, Canadian Mist, Herradura, New Mix,

Sonoma-Cutrer, Early Times, and Chambord.

Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by nearly

4,400 employees and sold in approximately 160

countries worldwide. For more information about

the company,

GLENDRONACH REVIVAL 15 YEAR OLD RETURNS

September 2018

GlenDronach distillery has once again relaunched its

Sherry-matured 15-year-old Revival, following a

three-year absence from shelves.

GlenDronach Revival 15 Year Old

Sherried comeback: The new GlenDronach Revival 15

Year Old has been matured in ex-oloroso and PX casks

The single malt has been matured in a combination of

ex-oloroso and PX Spanish oak casks from Andalucía

for 15 years, before being bottled at 46% abv.

It’s described as having notes of ‘ripe dark fruits and

manuka honey’ with an ‘elegant silk-velvet chocolate finish’.

The expression, priced at around £61 for a 70cl bottle,

will be available globally following an initial four-week

exclusive launch at GlenDronach distillery’s visitor centre.

Rachel Barrie, master blender for GlenDronach, said:

‘Today marks the return of The GlenDronach Revival

aged 15 years, an iconic aged expression of critical

acclaim, revered by connoisseurs around the globe.

‘Over 15 years in the darkness of our dunnage

warehouses, the spirit has grown in stature, refinement

and intensity.’

The original GlenDronach 15-year-old was first

launched in the 1990s as a 40% abv expression.

It was discontinued some time after, but reintroduced

again in 2009 under new ownership as GlenDronach Revival,

this time bottled at 46% abv.

However stock constraints forced its discontinuation in

2015.

The GlenDronach focuses on the marriage of fruity

and nutty Oloroso sherry casks and P X casks

GLENDRONACH DEBUTS NEW GRANDEUR

BATCH 10

December 2018

GlenDronach has launched the 10th expression

in its limited edition Grandeur range, a 27-year-old

single malt matured in some of the distillery’s ‘oldest

and most unique’ Sherry casks.

GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 10

‘Intense Sherry’: GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 10

has been matured in ex-PX and oloroso Sherry casks

Grandeur Batch 10 is described as an ‘intense Sherry

expression’ containing notes of ‘morello cherries in

dark chocolate’ with a finish comprised of ‘black

truffle, old-fashioned treacle gingerbread, prune

and walnut oil’.

Bottled at 50.1% abv, the whisky has been

matured in a combination of ex-PX and oloroso

Sherry puncheons and butts.

GlenDronach master blender Rachel Barrie said:

‘With layers of damson plum, black walnut and

truffle on a bed of antique leather and old-fashioned

treacle gingerbread, Batch 10 celebrates the robust,

full-bodied style of the GlenDronach distillery.’

Only 2,293 bottles of the limited edition malt are

available worldwide from specialist retailers, priced

around £449.

GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 9, released in

February 2018, was a 24-year-old single malt

made from a vatting of three different vintages.

GLENDRONACH BOYNSMILL LAUNCHES

IN DUTY FREE

May 2019

Highland distillery GlenDronach has released its

second global travel retail exclusive whisky, the

Boynsmill single malt.

GlenDronach Boynsmill 16-year-old global travel

retail exclusive

Travel exclusive: GlenDronach Boynsmill 16-year-old

is named after the distillery’s Highland home

The 16-year-old expression was matured in a

combination of ex-Port, Pedro Ximénez and oloroso

Sherry casks, before being bottled without colouring

or chill filtration at 46% abv.

Boynsmill is described as having ‘plum pudding,

cherry stone and apricot brandy’ notes on the

nose and an ‘exceedingly rich and fruity’ palate.

The expression is named after Boynsmill Estate,

which was established as the home for GlenDronach

distillery by its founder James Allardice in 1826, and

continues to welcome visitors today.

GlenDronach master blender Dr Rachel Barrie said: ‘

The GlenDronach Boynsmill aged 16 years celebrates

the rich heritage of the distillery, with a small number

of casks hand-selected to showcase its robust and

complex Highland character.

‘Pedro Ximénez and oloroso Sherry casks express

the rich and full-bodied signature style of the GlenDronach,

while Port casks from the Douro Valley subtly influence

the balance of fruit, recognisable in the “Valley of the Brambles”.’

Boynsmill is available from select travel retail outlets for

around £88, or US$115.

The expression will join GlenDronach’s first travel retail

exclusive whisky, Forgue, which was launched in September

2018.

GLENDRONACH RELEASES PORT WOOD WHISKY

June 2019

Highland distillery GlenDronach has unveiled Port Wood,

a limited release 10-year-old single malt.

GlenDronach Port Wood has been part-aged in Port pipes

The whisky was matured in a combination of ex-Pedro

Ximénez and ex-oloroso Sherry casks, followed by a

second maturation in ex-Port pipes sourced from the

Douro valley of Portugal.

The expression was bottled without chill filtration or

added colouring at 46% abv.

GlenDronach master blender Dr Rachel Barrie

described Port Wood as having ‘waves of Victoria

plum and top notes of cherry blossom’ on the nose,

‘blackberry and roasted apple crumble with freshly

baked gingerbread’ on the palate, and a ‘richly fruity’

finish.

She credited the maturation in Port pipes for giving

the expression ‘a deep cherry wood colour’ and ‘enriching

the layers of fruit’ in the whisky.

The distillery stated inspiration for the expression came

from the historical import of casked Port into Scotland in

the 19th century, during the time of GlenDronach’s founder,

James Allardice.

GlenDronach Port Wood is available to purchase from

specialist retailers at around £60 a bottle.

The expression joins GlenDronach’s Master Vintage 1993

single malt, a 25-year-old whisky, in the distillery’s limited

release collection.

It follows the 2017 release of GlenDronach

Peated Port Wood.

The GlenDronach Traditionally Peated

GlenDronach launches Traditionally Peated

November, 2019

The GlenDronach Distillery has launched its

Traditionally Peated expression - a highland scotch with a

heated finish.

Master blender Dr Rachel Barrie created The GlenDronach

Traditionally Peated by blending Pedro Ximénez, Oloroso

sherry and port casks.

“The GlenDronach Traditionally Peated offers connoisseurs

a rare opportunity to explore the distillery’s rich depths of

sherry cask maturation,” said Dr Barrie.

The whisky is bottled at 48% abv and is non-chill filtered.

It is now available to buy from specialist retailers worldwide

02 November, 2022

Highland whisky producer The Glendronach Distillery has announced the release of the eleventh batch of The Glendronach Cask Strength Editions.

The distillery’s latest bottling, from master blender Dr Rachel Barrie, has been aged in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks.

“This eleventh batch of The Glendronach Cask Strength embodies The Glendronach‘s celebrated style of Spanish Oak maturation in fine Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía,” said Barrie.

“Add a drop or two of water to this latest expression to reveal a cornucopia of flavour - from richly spiced bramble wine and treacle toffee, to lingering Seville orange peel and nutmeg layered with caramel and maraschino cherry.”

The Glendronach Cask Strength Edition 11, bottled at 59.8% abv is available in the UK at rrp £68, prices may vary in global markets

The Glendronach releases latest cask strength edition

02 November, 2022

Highland whisky producer The Glendronach Distillery has announced the release of the eleventh batch of The Glendronach Cask Strength Editions.

The distillery’s latest bottling, from master blender Dr Rachel Barrie, has been aged in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks.

The Glendronach Cask Strength Edition 11, bottled at 59.8% abv is available in the UK at rrp £68, prices may vary in global markets.

Hier trifft Mystik auf Natur, Moderne auf Tradition und Leidenschaft auf Liebe zum Detail. All diese Aspekte haben die Lebensweise der Schotten zu einem Punkt geführt, an dem Kultur auch zu einem sinnhaften Erlebnis wird. Ein Mehr an Qualität und Beständigkeit, welches sich natürlich auch in dem bekanntesten Produkt Schottlands wiederfindet.

Eingebettet in das Tal von Forgue, tief in den östlichen Highlands, liegt die The GlenDronach Destillerie, eine der ältesten Brennereien in Schottland, deren Geschichte reich ist an charismatischen Persönlichkeiten, herausfordernden Rückschlägen und Triumphen durch Hingabe. Hier treffen zweihundert Jahre Tradition auf meisterliche Handwerkskunst und Innovation und finden Vollendung in dem Markenzeichen des The Glendronach – die Verbindung des Highland Spirits mit den feinsten Oloroso Sherry Fässern aus Andalusien.

Whisky als Bestandteil der schottischen Gesellschaft

Das wahre Erbe liegt also in den über Jahrhunderte hinweg überlieferten Whiskytraditionen, die ein wichtiger Bestandteil der schottischen Gesellschaft sind. "Der Regen von heute ist der Whisky von morgen", so lautet ein traditionelles schottisches Sprichwort, das deutlich zeigt, wie sehr die Schotten ihren Whisky wertschätzen: In Schottland trägt man die Liebe zum flüssigen Gold im Herzen.

Diese enge Verbindung zwischen dem schottischen Land und der Identität des schottischen Whiskys ist einzigartig und beruht auf dem Reichtum der natürlichen Ressourcen. Dieses weiche Highland-Wasser, das aus Unterwasserquellen in den Balnoon-Hügeln stammt und die auf kaledonischem Boden angebaute Gerste bilden die natürliche Basis von The GlenDronach. Das Resultat ist ein reichhaltiger, fruchtiger und eleganter Single Malt mit einem langen und angenehmen Abgang.

Natürlich schlagen die Herzen der Whisky-Liebhaber nicht alle im gleichen Takt und sind so unterschiedlich im Charakter wie die Whiskys der Highlands. Das riesige Gebiet der Highlands bietet eine der größten Geschmackspaletten, von subtilen Eichenaromen, reicher Fruchtigkeit, Honig und gelegentlich etwas Torf und Rauch – The GlenDronach ist entsprechend tief in der Farbe und reich im Geschmack.

From its home in the Scottish Highlands, the GlenDronach Distillery has been

creating the finest sherried single malts for nearly 200 years. In 1826 the

exuberant and extroverted James Allardice founded the distillery and produced

his ‘Guid GlenDronach’ single malt.

Our Malts

GlenDronach 12 year old Original,

GlenDronach 15 year old Revival,

GlenDronach 18 year old Allardice,

GlenDronach 21 year old Parliament,

GlenDronach 15 year old Tawny Port Finish,

GlenDronach Single Casks

Opening Times

May to September: Mon-Sun: 10:00 to 16:30 hours

October to April: Mon-Fri: 10:00 to 16:30 hours

Visitor Facilities

Distillery visitor centre including distillery shop (with the opportunity to fill your own

bottle from the distillery manager’s cask or to buy our distillery exclusive bottling)

Guided Tours

GlenDronach Discovery Tour is available from 10:00 to 15:00 on the hour.

GlenDronach Tasting Tours are available from 10:00 to 15:00 on the hour.

GlenDronach Connoisseur’s tour has to be booked in advance.

Admission costs

GlenDronach Discovery Tour £5

GlenDronach Tasting Tour £15

GlenDronach Premium Tasting Tour £20

GlenDronach Connoisseur’s Tour £30

How to Find Us

Situated on the B9001 off the A97 from Huntly, near the valley of Forgue, the distillery is

within easy reach of most tourist routes