tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post6701822287681175933..comments2024-03-13T04:04:32.568-07:00Comments on Sku's Recent Eats: Whiskies Worth the Hype: Bladnoch & GlenDronach from K&Lskuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487419662314518931noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-53518527179484454062011-12-20T19:58:48.308-08:002011-12-20T19:58:48.308-08:00K&L's 1994 Glendronach is 56.0%K&L's 1994 Glendronach is 56.0%Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-19431274228545761382011-12-18T14:04:06.136-08:002011-12-18T14:04:06.136-08:00Florin, sounds like you have a similar cask but th...Florin, sounds like you have a similar cask but the K&L is a 1994 bottled at 16 years. <br /><br />The strength on the K&L Glendronach is 62.0% so it's not quite the same. Cask strength is supposed to mean the strength at which it came out of the cask, but I don't believe the term is defined by the SWA or Scottish law, and there is some controversy over whether some distillers add a bit of water to mass releases to standardize them, though in a single barrel that is probably less likely.<br /><br />The distiller notes on the K&L cask are:<br /><br />Nose: Toffee, butterscotch and sugar syrup revolving around a fruit laden hearj of figs, dates and alochol-infused prunes.<br />Appearance: Deep autumnal gold with fier orange influence.<br />Palate: Creamy and full. Baked apples drizzled with date syrup. Mellow toasted oak encased in abitter chocolate shell. Long and well structured.<br /><br />Frankly, I don't pay much attention to distillery notes, since they tend to be overly flowery and never say anything that could be construed as negative.skuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487419662314518931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-61102752238911786032011-12-18T09:40:18.708-08:002011-12-18T09:40:18.708-08:00I'm in London for a few days and I swung by Th...I'm in London for a few days and I swung by The Whiskey Exchange. They had me taste this single cask GlenDronach 15 from 1995, UK market only:<br />http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-15300.aspx<br />The bottle is very similar to the K&L, with same wording on the label, except that cask number is 4681. Super delicious, and I bought it on the spot. It must be very similar to the K&L! Identical proof too, 56.2% (What does "cask strength" mean, anyway? The proof of the particular single cask, or "really high proof"? Hard to believe that two different casks -- from different years -- would end up with same proof at same time). However, comparing with your assessment Sku, I did not find the 15yo too sweet, and what struck me was exactly how balanced the flavors were. In contrast, the standard 15yo (Revival) is much darker and sweeter -- the typical sherry bruiser. And so are, say, Glenfarclas 15, or Aberlour A'bunadh.<br /><br />The flavors of the single cask were very vibrant and well integrated, and the cask proof brought them all to the fore. It was the most exciting whisky I had in a while! It would be fun to swap samples and taste them side by side!<br /><br />The bottle comes with a little tag with the following tasting notes -- did the K&L too?<br />Nose: Chocolate orange segments with a hearty helping of stewed plums and forest fruit compote.<br />Appearance: Cherry wood with a russet mahogany-like appearance. Subtle antique gold elements.<br />Palate: Chocolate and toffee qualities reveal a bold mix of dried, spiced fruits including figs, rasins, and dates. Full-bodied with a dry, stylish finish.<br /><br />The notes are spot-on based on my limited sampling.<br /><br />It seems that this is a yearly limited release, and not a one-off thing, which is very good news!Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-63058157610743029962011-12-10T00:26:30.860-08:002011-12-10T00:26:30.860-08:00I also picked up the two Springbank single casks b...I also picked up the two Springbank single casks but haven't had an opportunity to taste them since I have so much open at the moment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-49840013556397512942011-12-09T15:30:47.829-08:002011-12-09T15:30:47.829-08:00Sounds like this one's for you BMc. I actuall...Sounds like this one's for you BMc. I actually like this one better than any of the standard GlenDronach line: 12, 15 or 18.skuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487419662314518931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-62681643004867541682011-12-09T15:07:52.567-08:002011-12-09T15:07:52.567-08:00Yum yum, thanks Sku and Mr. or Ms. Anonymous - I a...Yum yum, thanks Sku and Mr. or Ms. Anonymous - I am missing a big, sweet whiskey in my collection and sometimes it's just unbearable :) This oughta fill that yawing void. It's a slippery slope with that website, I swear... the 13 year Springbank also looks like a must-have.BMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05036354965069864586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-67093110650807486482011-12-09T14:49:03.739-08:002011-12-09T14:49:03.739-08:00BMc,
IMHO K&L's 1994 GlenDronach is prett...BMc, <br />IMHO K&L's 1994 GlenDronach is pretty great. I think they best described (paraphrasing) their single barrel as a hulked-up mutant of GlenDronach 12. I'd second that and recommend the reluctant/curious/frugal give GlenDronach 12 a go (if they haven't already).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-45631608555633876692011-12-09T09:51:55.228-08:002011-12-09T09:51:55.228-08:00BMc, you don't get many reviews of private lab...BMc, you don't get many reviews of private label bottlings because the are limited and the big reviewers often overlook them.<br /><br />The GlenDronach is a great whisky. I gave it a B+ on the LA Whiskey Society site which is defined as "Great, Definitely Want to Own." If you are a fan of sherried malts, I'd say it's for you.skuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487419662314518931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-10024076252219123802011-12-09T09:27:22.147-08:002011-12-09T09:27:22.147-08:00I'm really interested in the GlenDronach, but ...I'm really interested in the GlenDronach, but so little info is available on it, it's as frustrating as getting tasting notes on the Willett bourbons/ryes. Would you agree about the complexity of the malt, like the guys at K&L describe? They really went bananas in their tasting notesBMchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05036354965069864586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-15097236866134903892011-12-08T15:41:39.889-08:002011-12-08T15:41:39.889-08:00You are correct Anon. Thanks. I will change the ...You are correct Anon. Thanks. I will change the text to reflect that.skuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487419662314518931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-88432532228388178642011-12-08T15:13:20.744-08:002011-12-08T15:13:20.744-08:00It was my understanding (based on their blog and p...It was my understanding (based on their blog and podcast comments) that K&L's 1994 Glendronach is the result of two bourbon casks which had been combined into a single PX cask for finishing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com