In December 2021, while reviewing an old Glendronach 12-year-old Previ Import, I mentioned that it reminded me of the 1963 Glendronach 12-year-old I had the opportunity to taste a few years prior during a tasting where I could compare it to a more recent Glendronach 12. Upon revisiting my tasting notes, I realised I hadn’t documented my experience with that older Glendronach. It’s time to rectify that and include younger but older expressions from Glendronach, if that makes sense (it would if I did not make a point writing this sentence this way to make it confusing!) Today, we have the Glendronach 1963 12-year-old, a 21-year-old Parliament from about a dozen years ago, and a 1993 25-year-old in our glass.
Glendronach 1963 12-Year-Old (±1975) Review
This Glendronach 1963 was bottled around 1975, at 12 years old, for I. L. Ruffino, an Italian importer. It comes in a 75 cl green dumpy bottle with a cream label and has an ABV of 43%. Although it is no longer available for purchase, some bottles can still be found on the secondary market.
Colour:
Jonquille
Nose:
Neat: The nose is exceptional, featuring red fruits, sherry, grape, Madeira, apple, and pear liqueurs, along with fermented tropical fruits. It offers so many layers! Additional notes include copper coins, musty oranges, and roasted pineapples. Simply stunning.
Palate:
Neat: This whisky is a far cry from what I tasted nearly six years ago with an untrained palate. It is oily, greasy, and waxy, with notes of an old toolbox, metallic tubes, olive brine, orange liqueur, copper coins, various honeys, and candied lemons.
Finish:
The finish is marked by lemons, beeswax, aged honeys, and tea leaves.
Comments:
When I first tried this old Glendronach 1963 12-year-old, I clearly missed something. This whisky is unlike any other available today, with a profile that no longer exists. The nose is fruity and estery, while the palate is fantastic, boasting a stunning mouthfeel despite its low ABV and the decades it has spent in the bottle.
Rating: 8.5/10
Glendronach 21-year-old Parliament (2013) Review
Next up is a Glendronach 21-year-old Parliament, bottled in 2013. This expression, while technically just a 21-year-old, was matured in a combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks. It was bottled at 48% ABV, without added colouring or chill filtration. If you’re specifically looking for this vintage, Rare Vintage Whiskies (NL) still has some available for €295. However, more recent releases can be found at a lower price.
Colour:
Burnt umber.
Nose:
Neat: The nose offers herbal liqueur, molasses, prunes, hot cocoa, tapioca, wet leaves, treacle, nutmeg, and a hint of cinnamon, along with milk chocolate.
Palate:
Neat: The palate has a slightly oily mouthfeel, featuring dates, figs, resin, herbal liqueur, milk chocolate, instant coffee, marzipan, and a touch of soot. Additional notes include orange marmalade, orange peel, sultanas, strawberries, a hint of spices, walnut cake, and brown sugar.
Finish:
The finish brings dar, fruit jams, herbal bitters, dry earth, dark chocolate and dried mushrooms.
Comments:
This whisky has a classic, slightly aged sherry nose that is quite pleasant. The palate is even more impressive, with dark fruits and herbaceous notes, maintaining a slight freshness. The Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks balance each other beautifully. Overall, it’s really good.
Rating: 7/10
Glendronach 1993 25-year-old Master Vintage (2019) Review
We conclude this session with the Glendronach 1993 Master Vintage, bottled at 25 years old in 2019. Like the 21-year-old, it was matured in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and bottled at a slightly higher ABV of 48.2%, without chill filtration or added coloring. Rare Vintage Whiskies offers it for €395, while some UK shops list it in the excessive range of £600-£700!
Colour:
Mahogany.
Nose:
Neat: The nose presents sultanas, dates, cinnamon, hints of salted soy sauce, wood spices, milk chocolate, dried tobacco leaves, hazelnuts, and walnuts.
Palate:
Neat: The palate offers a good creamy mouthfeel with notes of butterscotch and baking spices such as pepper, cardamom, ginger, and clove. Additional flavors include marzipan, dried tobacco leaves, orange marmalade, plenty of orange peels, and juicy raisins.
Finish:
Nice sherry finish, starting sweet with vanilla and rum-raisin ice cream, then becoming slightly spicy and dry. It features light bitter oak notes and is medium-long, with some chocolate notes lingering in the background.
Comments:
This is a delicious whisky that, while not surprising, is classical and well-made. Lovely nose and palate. It closely resembles the 21-year-old Parliament, offering a similar profile but with its own nuanced charm.