Glendronach Scotch Whisky

Glendronach Whisky Distillery Information

Founded in 1826 by James Allardes

Location Speyside region Devron district East of Huntly

Water source Local springs

Glendronach Whisky Distilling Equipment

Copper domed cast iron mash tun.

9 Traditional Oregon pine washbacks.

4 Squat copper pot stills

Matured in Spanish sherry casks, American oak bourbon Hogsheads. In traditional dunnage warehouses

Glendronach Distillery History 

The distillery is set among the gentle rolling countryside of the Forgue Valley in Aberdeenshire’s ‘castle country’. Here illicit distilling had taken place for many years prior to 1826. The 5th Duke of Gordon persuaded the London government that fair licensing was the best way to beat whisky smuggling. The 1823 Excise Act was a direct result of his rational approach to the problem.

A James Allardes and a consortium of farmers and businessmen founded the distillery in 1826. Walter Scott acquired and enlarged the distillery in 1881. During 1920 Captain Charles Grant, son of William Grant the founder of Glenfiddich distillery, bought Glendronach remaining in the Grant family until it was sold to William Teachers & Sons Ltd in 1960.

In 1966 the number of stills was increased from 2 to 4

1976 William Teachers & Sons Ltd joins Allied Breweries now known as Allied Distillers Ltd. The malt whisky produced is still an important part of Teacher's blended whiskies

The Dronac burn flows through the grounds the water source is a spring east of the distillery.

At Glendronach all of the supporting preparation for distilling continues to be carried out using traditional methods. The distillery has its own floor maltings and malt-kiln providing about 15% of the malt needed. Some of the barley is grown on the company’s own farms located in the countryside around the distillery

The Fermentation wash backs are still made of wood; naked flames from coal fires heat the ball necked stills..

The earth floors in the original stone dunnage maturation warehouses retain moisture, absorbed from the excess moisture in the air during wet weather then releasing the moisture during extended hot spells in summertime. Keeping the atmosphere in the maturation warehouses damp and cool

Today there are perhaps only 2 distilleries that can truly be classified as ‘sherry maturation’ houses and only one The Glendronach distillery where 100% of the single malt sold still enjoys its primary maturation exclusively in sherry casks.

Glendronach Distillery Bottlings

Glendronach Original 12 Year Old - matured in sherry casks

Glendronach Older Distillery Bottlings

Glendronach 15 Year Old - 100% matured in sherry casks

Glendronach 18 Year Old

Glendronach 33 Year Old

The Glendronach 1968

Glendronach Whisky Independent Bottlings 

Blackadder,

Mission (Murray McDavid),

Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing),

Un-Chill Filtered (Signatory).

Whisky Galore (Duncan Taylor).

Published 8 times a year Whisky Magazine is the perfect complement to the dram in your glass. Every issue brings you fascinating articles on the art, science and romance of the 'water of life', plus page after page of tasting notes

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