today I will have a closer look into this Whisky:
Glendronach Hand-Filled 12yo Vintage 2011 Cask# 5039
I got this sample from a bottle share in China.
What are my expectations? Well, considering the color, casks, age and ABV I expect this Whisky to be very strong and complex. I expect the alcohol to be present but hopefully not too overwhelming. I really looking forward to try this one. But first give it some time in the glass to breath. In this case considering the age I will let it breath for at least 30 minutes.
During that time I will have it covered. I will use my tulip shaped glass.
Let’s see if it can surprise me and that hopefully in a positive way 🙂
Appearance:
Color: Mahogany to brown chocolate. Very oily as the streaks on the glass flow down slowly.
Nose: 87/100 points
Lots of intense dark and dried fruits, red berries, honey, some tabaco. The alcohol is stinging a bit but that is not surprising considering the high ABV. Caramel and a hint of chocolate coming through. Later a dry dusty oak shows up.
With water the alcohol is less intense and the sweet flavors becoming stronger.
Taste: 88/100 points
Very intense dark fruits kicking in directly at the beginning which immediately stimulate the saliva flow. Plenty of dry fruits filling your mouth. Mainly raisins. Then bread dough of a mixed bread appears. Later caramel and the hint of chocolate again. Some fruit sourness is also there. Next I get is oak and some tabaco wrapped in leather but those are more in the background.
With water the flavors not really change. At least I can’t notice any significant change to it.
Finish: 90/100 points
wonderful aromatic finish.
Strong intense fruity finish. very long and warming. Lots of red berries, dried and dark fruits, chocolate, caramel and tabaco. The fruity flavors stay incredibly long on the tongue and inside the mouth. Super intense finish. Wow!
Also here the water doesn’t change the flavors. Those still stay strong and intense.
Conclusion:
the force is strong with this one. Many of the aspects and flavors of this Whisky fulfilled my expectations. This one points with the finish. It’s been a while since I had a good dram with such an intense and flavorful finish. Really nice. Even after 30 minutes you still have the berries on your tongue. It also appears a bit older than 12 years imho.
Overall I give this Whisky: 88/100 WhiskyYoda points
here are some more detailed bottle information:
| Brand | Glendronach | Cask/Batch# | 5039 |
| Series | Hand-Filled | Vintage | 12.2011 |
| Region | Scotland / Speyside | Bottled | 03.2024 |
| Bottler | Distillery Bottling | Age | 12yo |
| Type | Single Malt | Non-Cillfiltered | yes |
| Casks | Oloroso Puncheon | Natural color | yes |
| ABV | 62.4% | Whiskybase ID: | 250411 |
