GlenDronach Distillery - Master’s Anthology Collection

GlenDronach Ode to the Valley

Region: Highland

ABV: 46.2%

Price: £65.00

Ode to the Valley is matured in a combination of ruby port casks from Portugal’s Douro Valley and sherry casks.

Nose

The nose opens with light red fruit aromas, cherry, strawberry jam, a little raspberry, alongside barley sugars, blackcurrant and a bit of yeast. It’s got a fairly youthful nose, there’s definite cask influence but there’s a lot of spirit here too. Going back, we’re finding blackcurrant cordial, mild cinnamon spice and some puréed ginger. There’s a white pepper spice in the background too, alongside a bit of cured venison loin.

Palate

The palate opens with fair amount of upfront sweetness, raspberry coulis, freshly squeezed lemon juice, barley sugars and cocoa nibs giving a bit more depth to the dram. There’s a younger, yeasty, dough-like flavour reminiscent of a sweetened bread dough that’s underpinning the dram, lasting into the mid length finish. The mouthfeel is thin, it’s like flavoured water, not enough viscosity for us. The alcohol also feels punchier than it should for the mid 40’s ABV. Time and air brings out a bit of caramel, chocolate bitters and Baileys Irish cream.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose accentuates the richer notes, we’re getting more caramels, chocolate, a little burnt toffee and macerated blackcurrants. It’s still fairly peppery and gingery, and maintains the youthfulness of the spirit.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate has more chocolate and cherry up front, reminding us of those cherry Jaffa cakes. There’s a sponginess here too, gingerbread, vanilla and a bit of cinnamon spice. There’s also some zingy lemon shortbread cookies coming through for us too. It’s a little more enjoyable now, however still very thin and a bit flat.

Conclusion

This is pretty disappointing to be honest. We’re getting the feeling this is quite young and immature spirit attempting to be masked by sherry and port, but it hasn’t quite melded together properly, leaving a disjointed whisky. There’s pleasant sweetness and red fruit flavours, but it’s thin, spicier than it should be, and not one for us.

Score: 5/10

Value

It’s hard to judge without an age statement, but we’re guessing this is fairly young and likely not the best value.

GlenDronach Ode to the Dark

Region: Highlands

ABV: 50.8%

Price: £79.95

Ode to the Dark is matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks.

Nose

The nose opens with charred oak, a little rosewater, raisins, blackcurrant cordial, caramel and dark chocolate. It’s a fairly expressive nose, however it’s mostly PX and little distillery character. The alcohol feels in good balance, and we’re also finding some clove and brown sugar. Fairly pleasant to nose, although a little one dimensional. There’s also a hint of almond marzipan and plum jam.

Palate

The palate opens with lots of dark cherry, mocha coffee, caramel drizzle, forest fruits and chocolate ganache. We’re also finding raisins, sultanas, candied ginger and vanilla custard doughnuts. There’s a black pepper spice that’s fairly prominent, but not too overpowering, that lingers into the medium length finish. The mouthfeel is decent, like sugar syrup, and we’re also getting dusty cupboards and a bit of torched brown sugar too.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has a bit more acidity, more of a sherry vinegar note, alongside meatier aromas of roast pork and a little bit of beef broth. Behind these aromas sit the chocolate raisins, burnt brown sugar and blackcurrant. It feels a little muted now, we’d avoid water for the nose.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate feels sweeter up front, fruiter, juicy raisins and sultanas, currants, milk chocolate as opposed to dark, cherry jam, and a bit of cinnamon spice. The mouthfeel and finish remain largely unchanged, maybe slightly thinner and shorter, so based on this we’d also skip water on the palate.

Conclusion

A bit of a sherry bomb, lots of sweet, rich PX flavours and aromas. Relatively simple, drinkable, one for a cold winters night.

Score: 6.5/10

Value

Still expensive for a non-age-statement release, but at least it comes with a decent ABV.

GlenDronach Ode to the Embers

Region: Highlands

ABV: 48.4%

Price: £67.95

Ode to the Embers is a peated spirit aged in both Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks.

Nose

The nose opens with a light herbal smokiness, toasted almonds, unsmoked bacon, star anise, black pepper, grilled strawberry and a handful of cloves. There’s a bit of red apple and flint there too. The alcohol is present but in reasonable balance, and we’re also finding grape must, rubber gloves, and iron. There’s a little more red fruit coming through after time and air, alongside sherbet and flames orange peel.

Palate

The palate opens with zingy red fruits, lots of cherry, raspberry and strawberries, all a little underripe, alongside earthy, leafy dirt-like smoke, almond brittle and vanilla cream. The palate is a bit thin, although there’s a a bit of texture here. There’s also some warm choux pastry, candied ginger and medjool date. The smoke is pretty mellow, only making itself known as the palate develops, and it’s mainly sweet oak and vanilla on the medium length finish.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has a bit more sourness, alongside rancio, leather, cherry juice and toasted marshmallows with some malted biscuits. The nose feels slightly more floral, but also mustier, and it’s pushed the peat smoke into the background.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate feels richer with smoked caramel, toffee crisp bars, dried twigs, freeze dried raspberries and cooking chocolate. The finish remains a decent length, but with those heavier chocolate and dirt flavours now more prominent.

Conclusion

Our first smokey Glendronach, and it’s perfectly pleasant. There’s not as much sherry character as we were expecting, it feels a bit more bourbon forward, and the smoke is fairly mellow, but it’s a fine dram.

Score: 6/10

Value

Still pricey for a non-age-statement release, but at least it offers both peat and sherry.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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