Reviewed at our Glenfarclas vs highland Park tastings August 2011:
Glendronach 18 Allardice 46% Score 8.94 Came Second (mystery)
NOSE: Sweet, sherry, cheesecake, caramel popcorn, maple'n'walnut icecream, chocolate, rooty, thick and luscious, orange chocolate, sticky date pudding, golden syrup, marzipan, rum'n'raisin, burnt toffee, leather, smoke hint, aged.
PALATE: Sherry, turkish delight, burnt, big, long, oily thick, complex, struck match, PX note.
FINISH: Alc, pepper, fireworks, spicy, carob, vanilla, jaffa, match head, marmite, long.
RWS/DMM
GlenDronach 18y.o. Allardice Olorosso 46%
Score 8.56 at our Glendronach tastings April 2010:
Aftershave nose, white spirits, rubber, tropical fruit, raisin bread, BBQed
marshmallows, model train set and baked beans.
Chewy palate, nutty, peaty, sappy oils, tinned apricots, burnt sugar, balanced.
Spicy finish, Glenfarclas-like, smooth, late and lingers.
RWS/DMM
Appearance: Bright deep gold with a tawny centre.
Nose: Sweet aromatics of fudge and muscovado sugar. Fruit compote and glacier morello cherries provide added complexity.
Palate: Rich dark and seductive. Remarkable flavours of stewed fruits and all-spice marry together with classical aged Oloroso and toasted walnut bread and chocolate orange. Tremendously complex and long.