GlenDronach 12 Original: The Sherried Scotch That Delivers on Every Promise
While Macallan raises prices, GlenDronach quietly produces one of the finest sherried Scotch whiskies in the world—at a price that makes you feel guilty.
The GlenDronach 12 Original is the sherried Scotch that Macallan used to be before marketing budgets grew larger than barrel budgets. Matured exclusively in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, this Highland distillery produces whisky of extraordinary richness at a price that seems almost charitable by modern standards.
The nose is gloriously sherried: rich dried fruit, orange marmalade, dark chocolate, and treacle create an opening that's warm, inviting, and unapologetically sweet. There's walnut, candied ginger, and a subtle oak spice that adds structure to the fruit-forward character. It smells expensive—far more expensive than it is.
On the palate, GlenDronach 12 delivers sherry-cask character with conviction. Dried fruit, raisin, and stewed plum lead, followed by dark chocolate, orange peel, and a warming cinnamon spice. The mouthfeel is full and rich at 43% ABV, with a viscosity that suggests generous cask influence. There's butterscotch and vanilla supporting the fruit, and a gentle oakiness that provides backbone without bitterness.
The finish is long and warming, with dried fruit, chocolate, and sherry sweetness slowly fading into oak spice. It's a finish that invites contemplation and rewards patience.
At approximately $45, GlenDronach 12 is arguably the best value in sherried Scotch. It offers quality comparable to whiskies at twice the price, and it does so with the quiet confidence of a distillery that knows exactly what it's doing. If you love sherry-cask Scotch and you're not drinking GlenDronach, you're making a mistake.
