GlenDronach Grandeur 24 years Review

A blend of vintages, all fully matured in ex-Sherry casks, the GlenDronach Grandeur 24 years is a sought after release that brings the sherry in a heavy and brooding manner. Every year it’s a bit different and this particular release was put together by Rachel Barrie who built it with her senses tuned to an elegant execution.

The only other batch I’ve had of the Grandeur was either batch 5 or 6 and I remember absolutely loving it. It was one of the glasses at the tasting I set aside and kept returning to over the night to see how it changed and I was constantly impresses with what I was finding. A seriously good Scotch and I’m incredibly excited to do this whisky review.

GlenDronach Grandeur 24 years Review: Details and Tasting Notes

In GlenDronach’s Words: GlenDronach Grandeur 24 years

The GlenDronach ‘Grandeur’ batch 9 has been personally selected by our Master Blender, Rachel Barrie, from some of our most extraordinary and remarkable sherry casks from 1990, 1992 and 1993. Matured in sherry casks from birth this 24 year old expression is a fantastic representation of the smooth, complex and full-bodied style which The GlenDronach is famous for.

GlenDronach Grandeur 24 years Review: Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: Highlands, Scotland

Distiller: Glendronach
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Sherry
Age: 24 Years
ABV: 48.7%

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Batch: 9
Bottles: 1,487

Price: $950*

GlenDronach Grandeur 24 years Review: Tasting Notes

EYE
Deep ruddy copper

NOSE
Cola, dried strawberries, roasted malt, sherry, spice, leather, prunes, cocoa, toffee, citrus and some light farmy notes with bits of Smarties and a rustic sweet profile.

PALATE
Cocoa, nuts, leather, sherry, dark fruit, overripe fruit, oily spice, cola, Twizzlers, Necco and some tobacco and hay.

FINISH
Medium -> Tobacco, dried dark fruit and hay

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Great balance, round full body and an oily feel.

GlenDronach Grandeur 24 years Review: Overall and Score

The aroma of the GlenDronach Grandeur 24 years is just simply amazing; a luscious tour de froce of complexity. I could sit and sniff this deep complex mix of sweets, spice and earthy notes all day long and the palate isn’t exactly slacking either.

Delicious and complex with layers of fruity sweetness and earthy tobacco and leather notes hitting against layers of spice… it’s simply lovely. The finish though seems to come up short in this whole thing. It’s nice, it’s pleasant, but it’s not as long and rich as I’d expect based on the heaviness of the aroma and palate. But hey, you can’t win ‘em all.

SCORE: 92/100 (A-)

*Disclosure: This GlenDronach Grandeur 24 years sample was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.