Here is the 3rd edition of this no-age-statement whisky released by Glendronach. This 2013 edition recovers the vatting formula between Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks. Let’s see if it’s on par with its elders!
Nose : We begin by notes of walnut and vanilla pie between getting a very invading milk caramel. It then needs time to climb down. We now see an appearance of citrus fruits (orange), cocoa but also some fruits (peach, red grapes, raspberries), a good tobacco dose and a base of Chinese beef soup spiced with pepper and rosemary. We also sense a bit of honey in the back but it struggles to exist. It’s less exuberant on the massive sherry than the previous batches but we also loose a bit vividness in the attack. Besides, the milk caramel regularly comes back marking the nose with its print, crushing on its way the competition. It’s a pretty nose now but perfectible.
Mouth : The alcoholic integration is nice with a good dose of dark chocolate brightened up by fresh oranges, still quite bitter, and a bit of walnut. It’s pretty creamy with a black pepper resurgence that partially masks the incoming of red grapes, strawberries and black currants. Thankfully some ginger brings a certain balance. A broad and pleasant mouth, that’s for sure. Unfortunately, we loose that subtlety that did the strength of the nose, to the advantage of a more massive yet sometimes clumsy palette.
Finish : It is pleasant and of beautiful holding on orange, milk caramel and ginger. The aftertaste is in the same lineage despite the arrival of leather and the lost of the milk caramel.
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