The Glendronach – the Highland distillery with a Spanish soul, has recently undergone a captivating brand refresh. Its core range now boasts a new look, with updated packaging and a vibrant visual campaign that speaks to the single malt's duality – a marriage of Highland spirit with a distinctive Spanish flair. This bold vision, as identified by the respected Master Blender Dr Rachel Barrie, is reflected in the new labelling, which features a more contemporary design and provides additional information about the specific types of sherry casks used to mature each expression.

Amidst this modernisation, one iconic element endures: the signature of the distillery's founder, James Allardice that’s shifted to the neck label of each bottle. But why does a figure from two centuries past continue to hold such significance in 2025? The answer lies in the colourful tale of how Glendronach got its start, a story that has become intertwined with the distillery's identity.

It was around 1826 that James Allardice, a man of entrepreneurial spirit, formed a consortium of local farmers and businessmen to found The Glendronach Distillery. This was a time when the whisky landscape in Scotland was vastly different. Distilling was often an illicit affair, with countless small operations producing whisky without licenses. Allardice saw the potential for a legitimate and thriving whisky business. Armed with a large barrel and flagon filled with his finest whisky, he set off to Edinburgh, the bustling Scottish capital, with the goal of promoting his whisky to landlords.

He quickly discovered that selling Glendronach was going to be more difficult than initially thought. Ironically, while Glendronach was only the second distillery to apply for a licence to produce whisky in the UK, Allardice found that Edinburgh's landlords were already well-stocked for the season. Their cellars were already filled with whisky from the numerous obiously unlicensed distilleries. "We already have our stock for the season," they told him, "but we will bear you in mind for next year."

Disheartened, Allardice wandered back to his hotel. But fate had other plans. As he walked up the street, he was approached by two young women who mischievously invited him for a drink. Allardice boasted to them about his very own "Guid Glendronach" whisky – "Guid" being a Scots dialect word meaning "good" or "great" – and offered them a taste. The hotel's general manager later discovered, to his dismay, that their guest had returned with a “lady of the night” (what they call local sex workers) in each arm. But the story didn't end there.

On the verge of giving up on his seemingly abortive sales drive in Edinburgh and returning home, Allardice made a decision that would change Glendronach's fortunes forever. He gave his new female friends a large flagon of whisky to share with their friends. The following day, word of mouth spread through the town about a good man from the Highlands with a barrel of Glendronach whisky. By afternoon, the street was filled with women who had perhaps consumed one drop too many, their lively chatter and laughter drawing attention from all corners. This unexpected spectacle piqued the curiosity of the neighbourhood, and soon everyone was eager to try some of the "Guid Glendronach" that had caused such a stir. People started requesting Glendronach by name when they visited their local pubs.

Recognising this golden opportunity, Allardice decided to stay a while longer in Edinburgh and sell the rest of his stock. It wasn't long before Glendronach could be found in every shop and restaurant along the Royal Mile, Edinburgh's main thoroughfare. And that, as they say, is how Glendronach got its strong start, thanks to a combination of entrepreneurial spirit, great whisky, and a sheer serendipity.

After James Allardice’s death, the distillery passed through the hands of various prominent investors including Charles Grant, the son of William Grant, the founder of the renowned Glenfiddich distillery, and William Teacher & Sons, who used Glendronach's single malt as a key component in their famous Teacher's Highland Cream blended whisky. In 2016, Brown-Forman purchased Glendronach and appointed Dr Rachel Barrie as its Master Blender, ushering in the current era for the distillery.

Today, we're tasting the flagship Glendronach 12 Year Old in its new livery. This bottling is matured in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks – a focus on its hallmark of sherry cask maturation. Let's dive right into this iconic sherried malt.

The Glendronach 12 Years Old Single Malt, 43% ABV – Review

Tasting Notes

Nose: Undeniably honeyed, with a luscious wave of dried fruit aromas - like sinking into a bowl of rum-soaked dates and sultanas, followed by a cascade of stewed fruits—fig jam and quince, with a hint of overripe strawberries. There's a contrasting freshness too, like a waft of freshly cut grass and a touch of spearmint and liquorice.

As the whisky rests for a bit in the glass, tangerine peel and orchard fruit accents emerge, alongside a subtle hint of spice and a delicate floral note reminiscent of orange blossoms and geraniums. Also some cocoa powder, vanilla, antique oak and toasted walnuts and almonds.

Palate: Bursts with fruit and spice. A precise note of spiced honey takes centre stage and lingers throughout. Sweet plum preserve while cinnamon and warm baking spices add a festive warmth. Allowed to breathe a little more, the spirit tames the spices, revealing a more crisp honey note with a touch of sultanas. The texture is medium-bodied and substantial, with a delightful balanced sweetness.

Finish: Spice and red fruits build to a crescendo that peaks close to the end, then subsides to drawn out notes of cocoa powder and aromatic oak. Liquorice lingers with light espresso and a fleeting impression of toasted coconut flakes.

My Thoughts:

This is a compelling and substantial entry-level malt. It's richly sherried but not a sherry bomb - one delivered with elegance and finesse. The nose is most captivating, with its multi-layered complexity—luscious red fruits, a viscous richness and those lightly floral and sweet notes. It's worth noting that the sweetness is well-balanced and never cloying.

This whisky is also quite approachable for a newcomer, especially so after allowing it to sit for five minutes that quells the warmth and brings out more honeyed notes. It also holds its flavour incredibly well as the flavours gradually evolve into something even more approachable. The palate delivers a wave of red fruits and spiciness, before subsiding into a long, satisfying finish. The duality referenced earlier is evident here—it’s got the freshness and honeyed character of a classic Highland malt intertwined with the robust Spanish oak influences that bring aromatic bitterness and rich red fruits to the fore.

@CharsiuCharlie