Glendronach Portwood Single Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml

GlenDronach Portwood Single Malt have released a limited edition single malt that has been laid down in Port casks. This particular expression is a 10 year old whisky (although it does not say “10 years on the label”), initally aged in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks before being finished in Port pipes. The GlenDronach Port Wood Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is enriched by a second maturation in the finest port pipes from the Douro Valley in Portugal.

A limited edition release from Highland distillery Glendronach, the Port Wood of the title makes up the second part of the maturation process after an initial period in ex Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks. The 10 year old expression has soft fruity notes, most prominently strawberry and plum.

The GlenDronach Portwood Single Malt Peated Port Wood is inspired by the import of casked Port into Scotland in the 19th century. Peated Port Wood is made using malted barley that has been dried in the ‘old style’, using Highland peat. A rare expression, distilled from malted barley smoked with Highland Peat. This whisky is then finished in the finest Port Pipes from the Douro Valley in Portugal. Bottled at 46% abv, The GlenDronach Peated Port Wood is non-chill-filtered. It is “dark amber with a ruby heart” and the palate is said to have notes of “tart cranberry juice with waves of Highland smoke, stewed barley and lingering, smouldering charcoal”.

Colour:

Amber colour with pinkish highlights.

Nose: 

Ripe red berries with vanilla, plum jam and caramel. Hints of charred oak and fresh grain.

Taste: 

Lots of beautiful fruity flavours, oranges, peaches, plums and cranberries. Honey sweetness with stewed barley. The peat smoke is very subdued but there is a lovely earthiness about this dram.

Finish:

Bitter notes of chocolate, charred oak and a little grassiness with some peppermint freshness.