GlenDronach has been distilling since 1826 at Forgue, near Huntly in Aberdeenshire, in the Highland region of Scotland. The name comes from Gaelic and refers to a valley of brambles, and the distillery draws its water from the Dronac burn. It was mothballed in 1996, reopened in 2002 and has belonged to Brown-Forman since 2016.
The 12 Year Old, known as the Original, is matured in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 43 per cent. Sherry maturation is the house style here, which gives the malt its dried fruit and spice in place of a light, grassy profile.
Honey leads on the nose, with walnut, toffee and polished wood behind it. The palate runs to crème brûlée, toasted marshmallow and orange studded with clove, and the orange lingers on the finish. Serve it neat at the end of a meal, or alongside sticky toffee pudding or a walnut cake, which pick up the nutty, caramel side.