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Distillery in Focus:          GlenDronach
Region: Highlands (Aberdeenshire)
Name: GlenDronach ( "valley of the blackberries (brambleberries)". Other names: Glenronach
Status: Active
Website: http://glendronachdistillery.com
Telephone: 0131 456 2670
E-Mail: info@glendronachdistillery.co.uk
Address: Forgue By Huntly, AB54 6DB, 57°29'3.18"N 2°37'30.74"W
Visitor centre: Yes
Owner: The BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd
Established in 1826
Stills: 2 wash and 2 spirit stills
Casks used for maturation: Mainly sherry
Percentage of single malts: 50%
Contribute(d) to the following blends: Ballantine's, Teachers, Glendronach Liqueur, old vatted Glendronach, Sir Walter and Huntly Royal.

Regular Bottling:

GlenDronach 12 YO 43%
GlenDronach 15 YO 46% Revival
GlenDronach 18 YO 46% Allardice
GlenDronach 31 YO 45.8% Grandeur
GlenDronach 33 YO 40%

GlenDronach Finish
Several "finish" version are currently available (2011): Sauternes, Virgin Oak, Tawny Port, and Moscatel.

Other bottlings:

In addition to the core range, several batches of single casks have been released, the batch 1 in July 2009, followed by the batch 2 in July 2010, batch 3 in November 2010 and batch 4 & 5 to be released in 2011. In addition, several single casks for customers have been bottled.

For the tasted whiskies, click here
From left to right: The Glendronach 150th Anniversary, the very rare Glendronach 19 YO bottled exclusively for the US market and the core range (since 2008: 12 Yo, 15 YO Revival, 18 YO Allardice and the 33 YO.

History of the GlenDronach distillery

In 1826, James Allardice (Allardyce or Allardes) founded the distillery in a partnership. John Allardyce took over in 1837. The company was acquired by Walter Scott in 1852, managing director (jointly with Alexander Ross). In 1874. Walter Scott became the first president of the Malt Distillers’ Association of Scotland. In 1887, the distillery was registered under the name John Sommerville & Co, before being acquired in 1916 by the Crown. The distillery was then closed until1920, when Captain Charles Grant, the son of the founder of the Glenfiddich distillery acquired the estate, including the distillery for £9000. To guarantee the supplies of Glendronach for their Teachers’ blend, William Teacher & Sons bought over the distillery in 1960. Between 1966 and 1967, a major upgrade was done, with a new still house (including 2 new stills, total 4), an additiona warehouse, new mash tun, additionnal washbacks in order to double the production capacity.. In 1969, the Glendronach 8 YO single malt was launched. In 1974, a biological plant was built. William Teacher & Sons became part of Allied Breweries Ltd in 1976. In 1996, Allied Distillers decided to mothball the distillery. Production resumed in 2001 and 3 years later, in 2005, Chivas took over Allied Distillers and thus become part of Chivas Brothers. Due to legal restriction, Glendronach is converted from coal fire to steam heating the same year. Glendronach was the last coal fired distillery in Scotland. In 2008, the distillery is bought by The BenRiach Distillery Company and the name of the single malt changed from “Glendronach” to “GlenDronach”. The range was repackaged in 2024.

Source: Distillery visit, The Making of Scotch whisky by John R. Hume & Michael S. Moss, The Whisky distilleries of Scotland and Irelandby P. Morrice, The Scotch whisky industry record by H. Charles, Craig, The Scotch Whisky Distilleries by Misako Udo, A family of Spirit, by Geogffrey E. Cousins
Patrick Brossard © 13 Jun 2011, updated 09 Oct 2024

The old malting floors at GlenDronach

 

The copper mash tun and view over the still house

 

The filling store at GlenDronach distillery.

Tasted whiskies (127):

Official/original bottlings (OB)  
Age  
GlenDronach Octarine, 8 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013 Rating: 13/20
Glendronach 8 YO “Teacher’s”, OB, 40%, B: 1980s Rating: 13/20
Glendronach 8 YO, OB, 45.4%, D: 1973 Rating: 14/20
GlenDronach Hielan, 8 YO, OB, 46%, B:2015 Rating: 12/20
GlenDronach Forgue, 10 YO, OB, 43%, B:2018. Rating: 13/20
Glendronach 12 YO, 40%, OB: B: 2005 Rating: 12/20
GlenDronach 12 YO, OB, 43%, B:2016 Rating: 16/20
Glendronach 12 YO, OB, 46%, B:2024. Rating: 13/20
GlenDonach 14 YO Virgin Oak, OB, 46%, B: 2010 Rating: 12/20
GlenDronach 15 YO Moscatel, OB, 46%, B: 2010 Rating: 13/20
Glendronach 15 YO 100% Sherry, OB, 40%, B: 2003 Rating: 13/20
GlenDronach 15% 100% Sherry, OB, 40%, B:2000s, Code L01758. Rating: 16/20
Glendronach 15 YO Revival, 46%, OB, B: 2009 Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 15 YO Revival, OB, 46%, B:2012. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 15 YO Revival, OB, 46%, B:2018 Rating: 14/20
Glendronach 15 YO, OB, 46%, B:2024 Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 16 YO Platinum, 48%, B:2014 Rating: 13/20
Glendronach 18 YO Allardice, 46%, OB, B: 2009 Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 18 YO Allardice, OB, 46%, B:2016 Rating: 14/20
Glendronach 18 YO, OB, 46%, B :2024. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 21 YO Parliament, OB, 48%, B: 2011 Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 21 YO Parliament, OB, 48%, B:2016 Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 31 YO Grandeur, OB, 45.8%, B: 2010 Rating: 17/20
Glendronach 33 YO, OB, 40%, D: 1971 Rating: 15/20
   
Vintages  
Glendronach 1968, OB, 43%. Rating: 17/20
Glendronach 1968, 25 YO, OB, 43%, B: 1993 Rating: 18/20
GlenDronach 1971, 38 YO, OB, 49.4%, B:2009, c 483, 544 b. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1971, 39 YO, 48.8%, B: 2010. c. 489, 541 b. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 1971, 40 YO, OB, 48.5%, B: 2011, c. 1436,  583 b. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1971, 41 YO, OB, 47.9%, B: 2012, c. 1247, 529 b. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1971, 42 YO, OB, 44.6%, B:2013, c. 1246, 432 b. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1972, 37 YO, OB, 54.8%, B: 2009, c. 719 474 b. Rating: 19/20
GlenDronach 1972 for LMDW, 37 YO, OB, 53.3%, B:2009, c. 705, 275 b. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 1972, 38 YO, OB, 51.5%, B: 2010, c. 718, 396 b. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1978, 31 YO, OB,  51.2%, B: 2010, c. 1040, 645 b. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1978, 33 YO, OB, 52.9%, B:2012, c. 1068, 318 b Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1985 for Lateltin, 25 YO, OB, 54.1%; B: 2011, c. 1034, 603 b. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1989, 20 YO, OB, 53.2%, B: 2010, c. 3315, 522 b. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 1989, 28 YO, OB, 49.9%, B:2018, Pedro Ximinez cask 5476 Rating: 13/20
GlenDronach 1990, 20 YO, OB, 57.9%, B: 2010, c. 2621, 546 b. Rating: 13/20
Glendronach 1990, 22 YO, OB, 55.1%, B: 2012, c.  2966. Rating: 14/20
GlenDronach 1990 Single Cask for Switzerland, 20 YO, OB, 49.8%, B: 2011, c.1241, 691 b. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 1990, 22 YO, OB, 50.8%, B: 2013, c. 2971, 604 b. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 1990 For Lateltin, 22 YO, OB, 52.1%, B: 2012, c.1160, 718 b. Rating: 12/20
GlenDronach 1990, 27 YO, OB, 53.4%, B:2017, PX c.7005. Rating: 14/20
GlenDronach 1991, 18 YO, 51.7%, B: 2010, c. 3182, 632 b. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1991, 19 YO, OB, 55.4%, c. 2406, 532 b. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 1991, 21 YO, OB, 49.8%, B: 2013, c. 5409, 716 b. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1991 Kingsman, 25 YO, OB, 48.2%, B:2017, 2500 b. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1992 for Parker, OB, 17 YO, 58.8%, B: 2009, c. 401, 626 b. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1992, 16 YO, OB, 57.2%, B: 2009 c. 1140 598b Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1992 selected by The Whisky Club and Versailles, 16 YO, OB, 60.8%,B: 2009, c. 39, 306 b. Rating: 18/20
GlenDronach 1992, 21 YO, OB, 58.1%, B:2013, c. 145, 598 b. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach for Tiger Selection 1992, 24 YO, OB, 57.6%, B:2016, c. 95. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1992 for Hsiu Ming, 24 YO, OB, 57.5%, B:2016, c. 97, 586 b. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 1992, 25 YO, OB, 58.5%, B:2017, cask 52. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1992, 25 YO, OB, 57%, B:2017, c. 89. Rating: 13/20
GlenDronach 1992 For Whisky Paradise SRL, 26 YO, OB, 52.8%, B:2018, c.67. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1992 for Whisky-online.com, 26 YO, OB, 54.3%, B: 2019, c. 220. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 1993, 16 YO, OB, 60.4%, B: 2009, c 523, 634 b Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1993 for LMDW, 16 YO, OB, 61.7%. c. 528 Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1993, 17 YO, OB, 60.5%, B: 2010, c. 529. 604 b. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1993 Single Cask Hand Filled (Manager’s selection), OB, 65.1%, B: 2011, cask 1610. Rating: 18/20
Glendronach 1993, 19 YO, OB, 59.4%, B: 2012,  c. 536 Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 1993 for UK, 19 YO, OB, 54.2%, B: 2012, c. 487, 673 b. Rating: 09/20
GlenDronach 1993 for LMDW and The Nectar, 19 YO, OB, 53.2%, B : 2012, c. 12, 623 b. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1993 For The Whisky Fair, OB, 52.6%, B:2013, c.13 Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1993, 19 YO, OB, 58.1%, B: 2012, c. 476, 613 b. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 1993 for Whiskybase, 21 YO, OB, 52.1%, B:2014, c. 23 Rating: 15/20
Glendronach 1993, 21 YO, OB, 59.6%, B:2016, c. 38, Oloroso Butt, 622 b. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1993 Beija-Flor & Silver Seal, 21 YO, OB, 58.1%, B:2014, c. 35, 605 b. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1993 for Beija-Flor & Silver Seal, 21 YO, OB, 59.6%, B:2014, c. 38, 622 b. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1993 for DC and TDM, 23 YO, OB, 59.1%, B:2016, c. 41. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1993, 24 YO, OB, 59.2%, B:2017, c. 43. Rating: 14/20
GlenDronach 1993 for La Maison du Whisky and The Nectar,  24 YO, OB, 52.4%, B:2017, c. 401, 659 b. Rating: 13/20
GlenDronach 1993 for Andy's Selection No.2 Taiwan, 24 YO, OB,  53.5%, B:2017, c.407, 633 b. Rating: 17/20
Glendronach 1993, 25 YO, OB, 53.9%, B:2019, cask 6251 Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1993 For Scotchwhisky.com, 26 YO, OB, 50.9%, B:2018, c. 6849 Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1994 Oloroso Puncheon for Parker, OB, 14 YO, 58.5%, B: 2009, c. 2311, 596 b. Rating: 14/20
GlenDronach 1994 for Abbeywhisky.com, 20 YO, OB, 54.8%, B:2014, c.3400, 672 b. Rating: 14/20
GlenDronach 1994 for Whisky Live Tokyo 2014, 20 YO, OB, 58.1%, c. 44, 595 b. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1994 Andy’s Selection N°1, 21 YO, OB, 53.8%, B:2016, c. 259, 587 b. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1994 Distillery Exclusive, 21 YO, OB, 53.2%, B:2017, c.3399, 629 b. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1994, 22 YO, OB, 51.6%, B:2017, c. 3379. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 1994 for LMDW, 28 YO, OB, 51.1%, B:2023, cask 2023. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1995 Pedro Ximinez for UK, 15 YO, OB, 56.2%, B: 2011, c. 4681, 725 b. Rating: 16/20
Glendronach 1995 For Mövenpick AG, 18 YO, OB, 55.1%, B: 2013, c.1654 Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1995 for The Whisky Agency, 18 YO, OB, 52.2%, c. 4408, 740 b. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 1995 for La Maison Du Whisky, 19 YO, OB, 54.2%, B:2014, c.1563, 640 b. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 1995 for Whiskybase, OB, 54.2%, B:2015, c.3804, 694 b. Rating: 13/20
GlenDronach 1995 for The Whisky Exchange, 19 YO, OB, 55.4%, c. 4028 Rating: 12/20
GlenDronach 1995, 19 YO, OB, 55.4%, B:2015, c. 4034. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 1995 Vive La Vie, 19 YO, OB, 54.1%, B:2014, c. 78, 583 b. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1995 for Shiuh Heng Co. Ltd, 21 YO, OB, 54.6%, B:2016, c. 1523, 684 b. Rating: 18/20
GlenDronach 1995, 21 YO, OB, 52.6%, B:2017, PX c. 4418. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1995 for La Maison du Whisky, OB, 48.9%, B:2017, c. 3054 Rating: 14/20
GlenDronach 1995 For Lateltin Switzerland, 52.8%, B:2017, c. 3042, 629 b. Rating: 17/20
GlenDronach 1996, 13 YO, OB, 59.4%, B: 2009, c 193 399 b. Rating: 14/20
GlenDronach 1996 for Wein & Whisky Berlin, 54.7%, B:2011, c.1372, 401 b. Rating: 14/20
GlenDronach 1996 for Whiskykanzler.de, OB, 53.8%, B: 2011, c.1492, 696 b. Rating: 09/20
Glendronach 1996 For Vinothek Massen an d Dram Brothers, 17 YO, OB, 53.4%, B: 2013, ca.1479. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 2002 for LMDW, 8 YO, OB, 59.9%, B: 2010, c. 694, 258 b. Rating: 13/20
GlenDronach 2002 Virgin Oak the Nectar, 10 YO, OB, 57.1%, B : 2012, c. 4530, 298 b. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 2003 for Whisky Kanzler,56.8%, B: 2011, c. 3999, 702 b. Rating: 14/20
GlenDronach 2003 For Taiwan, 11 YO, OB, 54.8%, B:2014, c. 4002, 687 b. Rating: 18/20
GlenDronach 2003 For Taiwan, 11 YO, OB, 53.9%, B:2014, c.4008, 678 b. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 2003 for Lateltin AG Switzerland, 12 YO, OB, 54.3%, B:2015, c. 4098. Rating: 13/20
GlenDronach 2003 for Yong Fu Liquor Store, 12 YO, OB, 55.8%, B:2015, c. 4081, 348 b. Rating: 16/20
GlenDronach 2004, 11 YO, OB, 57.8%, B:2015, c. 5524. Rating: 12/20
GlenDronach 2004 for CC Choice N°1 Taiwan, 12 YO, OB, 54.1%, B:2016, cask 349 Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach 2004 Hand-filled, OB, 56.1%, B: 2017, c. 345/6630 Rating: 16/20
Glendronach 2004 for Asia Palate Association, OB, 58.1%, B:2016, c. 6628, 647 b. Rating: 16/20
   
   
No Age Specified (NAS)  
GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 2, OB, 55.2%, B:2012 Rating: 14/20
GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 3, OB, 54.9%, B:2014 Rating: 13/20
GlenDronach Cask Strength batch 6, OB, 56.1%, B:2017. Rating: 15/20
GlenDronach Peated, OB, 46%, Rating: 12/20
GlenDronach Peated Port Wood, OB, 46%, B:2017 Rating: 14/20

 

Independent bottlings (IB)  
   
Cadenhead's  
Glendronach 1970 White Label, Cadenhead’s, 58.9%, cask 26 Rating: 15/20
Glendronach 1988, 10 YO, Cadenhead, 61.3%, B: 1999. 426 b Rating: 16/20
Glendronach 1990 Small Batch, 23 YO, Cadenhead’s, 49.5%, B:2013, 534 b. Rating: 13/20
   
Douglas Laing  
Glendronach 1985 OMC sherry finish, 20 YO, D. Laing, B: 2006, ref 1488, 239 b. Rating: 16/20
Glendronach 1995 OMC for Passchendaele 1917 Pipes and Drums, 14 YO, D. Laing, Ref 5673, 240 b.. Rating: 14/20
   
Dun Bheagan  
Glendronach 1975, 34 YO, Dun Bheagan, 47.8%, B: 2009, cask 1704, 226 bottles. Rating: 18/20
   
Hart Brothers  
Glendronach 2009 for the Netherlands, 11 YO, Hart Brothers, 58.1%, B:2020 Rating: 15/20
   
Murray McDavid  
Glendronach 1975 Mission IV, 23 YO, MMD, 46%, B: 1998 Rating: 16/20
Glendronach 1990, 13 YO, Murray McDavid, 46%, MM579 Rating: 09/20
   
Samaroli  
Glendronach 1970, Samaroli, 43%, 480 b. Rating: 18/20
   
Signatory  
Glendronach 1970, 20 YO, Signatory, 56%, B: 1990, cask 513-8, 1800 b. Rating: 18/20
Glendronach 1970 Prestonfield, 18 YO, The Higlander, 43%, c. 542-558. Rating: 15/20

Glendronach 1977, Signatory, 47.5%, B: 2005, c. 3720, 147 b

 Rating: 14/20
Glendronach 1987, 9 YO, Signatory, 43%, B: 1997, c. 62 Rating: 12/20