Glendronach 15-year-old

Overall rating
86.50/100
votes
491
Whiskybase ID
WB3164
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
100% Matured in Sherry Casks
Stated Age
15 years old
Casktype
Sherry Casks
Strength
40.0 % Vol.
Size
700 ml
Bottle code
LK94408
Barcode
5010093562014
Added on
21 aug 2008 10:03 pm

Average value

€ 390.99

32 × in wishlist

491 × member ratings

1376 × in collection

Whisky reviews for Glendronach 15-year-old

42 users have left 48 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 86.50 points.

  1. Mannix65 scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    Wonderful old-style standard with a strong dash of old-bottle flavor. Delicious.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Clear Oloroso Sherry, but with a delicate structure and nicely embedded in leather and grape aromas, floor wax and furniture polish
    • Taste
      90 90
      Soft, velvety, round - sherry to suckle, chocolate raisins, dried cranberries, leather and old wardrobes
    • Finish
      87 87
      red berries and old sherry with a hint of wood - balanced and rather short

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  3. Othorion scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
      Furniture polish, walnuts, raisins, grapes, cherries, cardboard, old leather couch, caramel, mint, spicy oak notes. Filigree and very tasty!
    • Taste
      87 87
      Dark chocolate, roasted walnuts, creamy, raisins, grapefruit, a few cherries, cedar wood, old leather, not watery despite "only" 40% by volume
    • Finish
      85 85
      Very smooth, the roasted walnuts stay medium long

  4. Petitcham scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    The richness and oiliness of the old sherry whisky, a little richer than the alcohol strength, but still light body, softness

  5. Killswitch scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  6. pianoman scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      sour cherries. garden herbs. Lime zest, unripe lemon. Some hairspray.
    • Taste
      Soft. wild strawberries and grapefruit. sprites A trace of old newspapers. A little watery.

  7. WhiskyCasual scored this whisky 88 points Photo Moderator

    I like it very much.
    Tobacco, Leather.. and some Peat?
    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  8. JungleDram scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  9. rabbitnose scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Its got the old maltyness with light sherry notes

    Thin shellow but still pleasant with nice balance.

    Not complex nor deep at any sides.. but still adorable. Light medium fisnish with lack of unpleasant tastes

    Very nice but nothing special about it

  10. Whisky Hamster scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Great sherried malt, old bottle style but rather fragile and different in character than later bottlings under new ownership. Fruitier and less brutal on the Oloroso. Higher abv. would help. Nonetheless a very fun sipper from yesteryear.

  11. rolabob scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      85 85

  12. Flou scored this whisky 87 points Expert Junior

    The 15-year-old Glendronach Revival was one of my absolute favorite whiskys when I started whisky. One more reason to try this old 15-year-old Glendronach and to see how the bottling differs from the Glendronachs of recent years. The only 40% alcohol content is generally not enough for me, but maybe the Glendronach can surprise with more fullness and intensity than I think ... I'm excited.

    It is immediately noticeable in the nose that this whisky is very different from the more modern bottlings. Intense sherry flows in the nose, incredibly sweet and with a completely different character ... from the tendency for me it is more towards the Couvreur. Everything is incredibly smooth and soft, the flavors have few edges. Honey sweetness combines with boiled strawberries, raspberries, cherries and plum jam. Raisins covered with milk chocolate and caramel are very present. A gentle spiciness fights through the sweet fruitiness and brings along with a little pepper and a little hint of lovage also the tart notes with hints of leather and old wooden furniture. So different from the current bottlings from Glendronach but wonderfully smooth and pleasant. The somewhat sour, fresher aromas that are found in the current bottlings alongside the typical deep Glendronach sherry aromas are missing. This makes the whisky a little dull, if you can put it like that.

    In the mouth, the whisky has a stronger start than I would have expected the 40% alcohol content. But it is still a bit thin and there is simply a lack of intensity and fullness. The spiciness literally tingles on the tongue without becoming too sharp, but more like carbon dioxide from the mouth. The tannins are now much stronger than they were on the nose. Chewed walnuts ensure dryness in the mouth, the raisins ensure a deep sweetness and the whole milk chocolate coating is now made of dark chocolate with more than 75% cocoa. The sweetness is no longer as dominant as when smelling. The leather is now becoming more and more intense, tobacco notes are being added. The bitterness of coffee is palpable. Compared to the nose, I lack the dominant fruitiness here. In the mouth, the bitter notes have the scepter in hand and the sweetness and fruitiness are present throughout, but no longer play the leading role. I liked the whisky a lot better in my nose.

    The finish is medium-long with pepper, which still provides a subtle sharpness in the mouth and the tart notes such as leather, wet tobacco, damp forest floor, old, slightly moldy wood and toasted aromas of coffee or slightly burnt bread crust. The sweetness is barely there, the dark fruits are present throughout the mouth, but rather as a soft veil, which envelops the tart flavors quite inconspicuously, but no longer plays a really important role. The finish is too bitter for me, the balance is no longer right. The woodiness goes too much in the musty direction, that's not my thing.

    Overall, I found the whisky in my nose really great. The taste could then no longer keep up with the current 15-year-old Glendronach and the finish drops off significantly for me.

    Because of the great aromas in the nose, the whisky gets a scarce 87/100 points from me with a clear downward tendency towards 86 points. In the past, things weren't always better.
    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      84 84

  13. dRambo scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  14. dRambo scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Interesting how different modern bottlings are - in this case I would not even say that everything was better in the old days. Different, but not better. Tastes full of retro - I like the nose the best.
    • Nose
      Covered strawberries, cardboard box, sour cucumber water, dusty loft, cherry jam, unshelled almonds, mild tobacco, honey, old leather jacket, rose water, orange juice, geranium leaves, restrained but extremely dense nose reminds me a bit of refill and old blends (could also have a grain proportion included - purely from the flavor profile)
    • Taste
      Strawberry jam, mint, snuff, rose water, oak, nutmeg, furniture polish, palm wax shoe polish, leather, cedar, shaving cream, chocolate
    • Finish
      very mild and soft - it takes more than a sip to generate a noticeable finish - then it is flattering and midlat

  15. ctu scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    An interesting old Glendronach. It's very powerful on the nose, after all it's not bad, I just wouldn't have expected this on the taste. But there is a completely different flavor than the later 15yo Revival version!
    • Nose
      Old sherry, rum raisin, prune, antique skin, caramel, vegetables and a touch of spicy oak.
    • Taste
      It's completely different from the nose. Bigger oak and malt, but thinner than the strong smell. Few fruits, dark chocolate, vegetables, negro candy and bitter herbals.
    • Finish
      Medium length, bittersweet.

  16. Vince' scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Nose: My first thought: milk-based walnut ice cream, with a sour old spicy sherry note (which almost always reminds me of lovage). After some time in the glass, the harsh oak flavors can be identified, which leave me long stale black tea with some mint, tobacco and leather associate. The alcohol is not present in any degree, wonders at 40% vol. But also not. But the aroma is not weak due to the alcohol either. He is a flatterer and has something of everything, Nothing really stands out. With more oxygen, the walnut ice vanishes note; earthy wood tones and old vinous, spicy sour sherry go hand in hand. In between, some dark chocolate and nut nougat always flash out of the flavors. I like the nose very much! Taste: Soft, old and damn spicy, it comes over in the first sip. Barely sweet and relatively low in acidity, but a great deal of old sherry that reminds me of old leather couches, tobacco, black tea and cocoa. Perfect mouthfeel and exactly my case. He generally looks older in taste than he is. Nevertheless, I think 43% or 46% vol. would have been a little better. The second sip is also impressive with no alcohol, an acid-spike approach, but can not prevail against the spice's strong spiciness. The finish is bittersweet and long-lasting spicy and goes back into cocoa. The finish is medium I would say. In general, the flavors are just my case, but 40% are a bit weak. Conclusion: delicious. I can hardly say more about that. A little weak on the chest because of the 40% vol., But still the flavors I was hoping for. If he was not that bad now, I might get a bottle.
    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      89 89

  17. Allandale scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    A rich and smooth body.
    • Nose
      Sweet, raisiny, sherry, balanced by polished oak and sweetish, fragrant peat smoke.
    • Taste
      Oaky, Dry maltiness. Crunchy toffee. Buttery.
    • Finish
      Liquorice-toffe, sherry notes.

  18. Mimoo21 scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      80 80

  19. Arno Pelgrim scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  20. Sir Ardbeg scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    Good to drink with great swig, otherwise too light.

  21. helmutgw scored this whisky 74 points Expert Senior

    F: dark gold, slightly greenish N: very weak and relaxing, sherry, fruits, some sulfur? G: body too light, taste too volatile - there is very little over there. A: alcoholic with only weak taste impressions. does not tolerate water
    second attempt with "big sips": G: Sherry more intense, better - but still way too easy and not very interesting N: long - sweet - sherry, liquorice?
    • Nose
      70 70
    • Taste
      79 79
    • Finish
      80 80

  22. Maurice_M2 scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      82 82
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      81 81

  23. p4blo scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    A rather weird profile, but not necessarily a must-try, even for fans of the distillery.
    • Nose
      Totally different than Revival, it actually smells "old", dusty, musty, mouldy, with the notes of nuts, earth and soy sauce spiced up by some weird blue cheese influence. An off smell of socks adds to the mixed feelings here.
    • Taste
      The taste is much more conventional, but quite unidimensional and thin. Some general fruitiness with no distinctive notes of any particular fruit, some chocolate and again a tiny crumb of blue cheese.
    • Finish
      Short, mild, feels toned-down, this time on a purely fruity side.

  24. BXpress scored this whisky 79 points Expert Senior

    sample.

    I wouldn't buy a bottle of this. A few nice notes here and there but nothing remarkable.
    • Nose
      Stale red wine and something cheesy. Could aswell be unwashed feet. Then some ripe cherries. It's a very weak nose tbh. Gets then a little milky. Some chocolate now.
    • Taste
      Thin and weak. Not very expressive. Some milk chocolate maybe. Then some liquorice and a little spicy. Some mint and a little herbal. Not much to see here.
    • Finish
      Short to medium. Some chocolate in the aftertaste.

  25. hfos scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      80 80

  26. peatbogger scored this whisky 89 points Specialist

    When you want to endulge in a full warm and satisfying sherry experience, nothing beats a GlenDronach.

    I love this!

  27. The Macallan scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    N: burned Sugar, sherry, sulphury notes

    P: full, rich, sherry sugary notes

    F: warm, yet light and drying.

    C: A beauty this one is. Just an initial note I made, I'll make a proper one later

  28. Paulski88 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      93 93
    • Taste
      95 95
    • Finish
      83 83

  29. lincolnimp scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      76 76
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      87 87

  30. lincolnimp scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

     always liked this bottling, not complex but enjoyable.
    • Nose
      Something cheesy initially then some bacon notes. I also get those old pink cream wafers. There are also dark fruits and a little caramel.
    • Taste
      Much better, strawberries and cream mixed in with black berry.

      There is also some black cherry, smoked ham and chocolate icing.
    • Finish
      Medium length with a sweet finish.

  31. JacobaEd scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    initial tatste is nice, some kirch.. but no strong finish
    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      83 83

  32. squaadgras scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  33. smaeksle did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Grandiose nose, the rest a little disappointed.
    • Nose
      From a distance, the sherry pulls through the room. Dark aromas, a lot of sherry, chocolate and an incredible amount of spices. Very busy and complex. In the background glazed wood.
    • Taste
      First a little sweet, then slightly watery, followed by sherry and some bitter notes. Maybe a little vanilla. Overall, a bit watery and not as great as the nose.
    • Finish
      Slightly bitter, but not really complex and some woody notes.

  34. WhiskyLovingPianist did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    N: Strong, nutty, candied, dry sherry [amontillado] with vanilla and redcurrent lozenges. There are feint sulphur hints but this quickly leans towards fusty-dunnage, nutty oakiness. After time, the more usual fig, ginger cake and sticky toffee pudding notes emerge.
    T: Fusty, dry sweet/sour sherry, spirit led with a caramel sweetener - the strength on the palate more in keeping with the abv than on the nose. Some wood oils develop with a soft but definite underlying freshness. Uncomplicated enjoyment to be had
    F: Grainy, charred/oily/oaky sherry with dry heathery grasses, faint vanilla-caramel, newish but oily oak. mini Shreddies and a heathery, blackberry finish. Big fusty/dunnage vibes till the last with a light-toasted, heathery dryness.
    C: Not totally convincing but I like the oak character coupled with the dry sherry nature - a refreshing change from the Oloroso cask dominance.

    Scores a B-

  35. Georges scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      82 82
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      82 82

  36. Georges scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Prunes, sultanas, sherry
    • Taste
      Toffee, caramel, figs
    • Finish
      Medium long, figs, chocolate

  37. Gilles_V scored this whisky 84 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      93 93
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      72 72

  38. Gilles_V scored this whisky 84 points Expert Junior

    Raised in 100% sherry casks: yes, that's noticeable. A delicious malt that unfortunately ends on a very slight metallic note that prevents it from reaching the exceptional malts.
    • Nose
      Nuts and gingerbread. Deliciously marked by sherry.
    • Taste
      Very round with surprisingly some cereal notes that point in the end.
    • Finish
      Average length. Unfortunately, a metallic taste appears, which is not very pleasant.

  39. Kaltduscher scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Full-bodied. Warm. Sherry. Cinnamon. Plums. Pears. Red berries. Some vanilla and honey. Chocolate. Marzipan.
    • Taste
      Fruity. Sourly. Liqueur-like. Citrus fruits. Malt. Marzipan. Something sherry.
    • Finish
      Mild, but long. Malty. Drying. Plums. Some chocolate.

  40. Paulski88 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      80 80
    • Taste
      80 80
    • Finish
      70 70

  41. Superted scored this whisky 81 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      rubber sherry sulfur
    • Taste
      rum raisin tobacco smoke

  42. Erik Elixir scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      sherry, chocolate, some smoke, cookies, grains and spices - paprika
    • Taste
      creamy, strawberries, fudge, pepper and bitter fruits
    • Finish
      vanilla, liquorice- zoethout and caramel

  43. Malt Hans scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Fruity and spicy aroma, beef stock, wet hay, gunpowder, orange juice, raspberries, coffee, dark chocolate, raisins, malt and vanilla. Vanilla sweet taste, mint, pepper, raisins, vanilla, banana and malt. Medium long, fruity and malty end. Fruity and spicy aroma, beef stock, wet hay, gunpowder, orange juice, raspberries, coffee, dark chocolate, raisins, malt and vanilla. Vanilla sweet taste, mint, pepper, raisins, vanilla, banana and malt. Medium long, fruity and malty end. Score 82p.

    I tasted (probably) another batch at the last NMWS Stavanger tasting earlier this month. The bottle had been opened for 10-15 years and was just above half full. It was much lighter and much more on tropical fruit, without the sulphury aroma. It seems to be quit a lot of batches of this bottling, produced for many years and under different owners and with different taste and aroma. Score 88p.

  44. Sonett scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    After one dram you want another, and another, and........

    Very drinkable
    • Nose
      Nose of Sherry, Plums and figs
    • Taste
      Soft and sweet with plums raisins and sherry tones
    • Finish
      Medium long to long in the same maner as the taste

  45. granella2003 scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      sherry, coffee, sulfur, dried mushrooms
    • Taste
      XMas pie, marzipan, bitter, a hint of sulfur and salty, dry for this whisky type
    • Finish
      medium, dry, too fast compared to expectations

  46. granella2003 scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      92 92
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      86 86

  47. mmaclean scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    The deep color and rich flavor in this 15 yr is fantastic. It is more exciting than its younger brother 12 yr. Complex, mature, nutty, cinnamon, vanilla. The finish is fantastic and very impressive just inviting another go at it!

  48. Feusi scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    A unique malty sweetness crowds into the nose. For soft drink and sweet. Sherry cask at its finest. Prolonged very smooth finish completes this bottling

  49. Lafroy scored this whisky 80 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Nose is dominated by sherry. It is filled
      with cherries and prunes, smoke, hints of wine, sweetness and grapes.
    • Taste
      Relatively complex, not very well balanced.
      A lot of pears, cherry, sourness, additionally, some notes of currants and flowers.
      It reminds of wine.
    • Finish
      Long, sweet & sour.

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