Glendronach 33 Years Old 40% NV

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (89)

Interesting to taste this new one that was probably distilled in the same years as the old 12yo. Too bad they didn’t bottle it at at least 43%. Colour: coffee – just the same. Nose: surprisingly similar at first nosing (soy sauce and herbs) but getting much fruitier and spicier after a while. Lots of orange marmalade, cooked strawberries, a little pepper, cigar box, sandalwood, whiffs of incense… Slightly smoky and gingery. We have also a little clove, Chinese anise, also smoked ham. Really complex and rich but still very elegant. Rounder than the old 12 yo but just as great. Mouth: very nice attack on bold notes of pineapple (soaked in rum) and very ripe melons but the whole is slightly weak (slightly disappointing mouth feel, lacking body). Now, the profile is great, with lots of sultanas, bitter chocolate, cocoa (slightly drying), violet and aniseed sweets, orange blossom, black toffee. Hints on mint drops. Gets just a tad drying after a (long) moment. Finish: medium long, really on sherry, roasted nuts and cocoa again, getting just a little cardboardy (tannins). A beautiful whisky, maybe just a tad too weakish and drying on the palate to make it over